Cebu lawmaker, 12 others face plunder raps

MANILA, Philippines — Cebu sixth district Rep. Jonas Cortes and 12 other former officials of Mandaue City are in hot water over an alleged anomaly in the sale of a 3.5-hectare reclaimed land during his stint as city mayor in 2015.

Two residents – Bernard Cabatingana and Analin Maquilan – are set to file this week a taxpayer’s complaint against the respondents before the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Visayas.

Cortes and the former city council sold the property for P1,791,050 or a measly P50 per square meter when the land’s current market value is P12,000 per square meter or P429.8 million, according to the complainants.

The respondents will face criminal charges of plunder and violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices law, as well as administrative charges of grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

The complainants will also charge then vice mayor Glenn Bercebe and former councilors Emmarie Dizon, Jose Jefferson Ceniza, Beethoven Andaya, Nenita Layese, Jimmy Lumapas, Demetrio Cortes Jr., Elstone Dabon, Benjamin Basiga, Diosdado Suico, Editha Cabahug and Ernie Manatad.