CEBU, Philippines — Mandaue City Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna recalled the remarkable accomplishments of Councilor Demetrio "Tatay Jun" Cortes Jr. as his remains were laid to rest in Mandaue City Cemetery yesterday afternoon.
Fortuna said Cortes was performing well as a councilor and he was well-loved by the City Hall employees.
Among Cortes’ accomplishments were the ban on the use of plastics in the city, the increase of cash assistance to P6,000 from P3,000 for senior citizens, the granting of P2,000 financial assistance to persons with disabilities (PWDs), and the increase of cash gifts to P50,000 from P5,000 for centenarians.
Cortes, 66, passed away on December 28 of last year due to chronic kidney disease.
He is the third of 13 siblings. The youngest is former mayor and now sixth district Representative Jonas Cortes.
Councilor Cortes started his political career as village chief of Barangay Centro. Before he was elected councilor for two terms, he served as vice mayor of then mayor Alfredo “Pedong” Ouano.
In yesterday's requiem mass, the members of the City Council led by Fortuna carried the white casket of the late councilor to the National Shrine of St. Joseph from the Mandaue City Hall.
City Councilors Carmelino Del Mar, Jr., Malcom Sanchez, Kevin Cabahug, Ernie Manatad, Benjamin Basiga, and Elmer Cabahug also carried the coffin together with Fortuna.
Colleagues, friends, relatives and the immediate family, who were all wearing black and white shades, waited inside the church.
Jonas and his family were also there.
Mandaue City Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing also graced the requiem mass.
The final wake was held last Friday at the Cortes ancestral house in Barangay Centro.
Necrological services were conducted by family and friends as well as the department heads of the Mandaue City Hall on the same day.
Cortes left one seat in the council vacant and Fortuna said the city's Liberal Party will choose his replacement. (FREEMAN)