Lifestyle check on Jonas sought

CEBU, Philippines - One of those affected by the demolition along Mahiga Creek asked the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to undertake a lifestyle check against Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes.

Roberto Letaba, a resident of Philcadan, Banilad, Mandaue City said that Cortes owns a multi-million newly-built house in Sacres, Barangay Bakilid, Mandaue City. He also alleged that Cortes acquired some other real and personal properties during his incumbency as mayor.

Letaba asked the Ombudsman to act on his request immediately.

Meanwhile, members of urban poor organizations Philcadan and Sitio Rosal Neighborhood Association in Banilad, Mandaue City asked the advice of Assistant Deputy Ombudsman Virginia Santiago as regard the 6.5-hectare relocation site that Cortes provided them.

Letaba and the other affected families told Santiago that the relocation site is a timberland and is not a safe place for them to live in. The relocation site located in Paknaan, Mandaue City is intended for the 140 families affected by the demolition.

Letaba showed a certification issued by the Community Environment Natural Resources (CENR) officer-in-charge Anastacio Cabalejo that the lot is a timberland.   The urban poor organization’s lawyer, Geovanie Luna, said they are set to file criminal and administrative charges against Cortes for insisting on demolishing the houses of the urban poor and to relocate them to Barangay Paknaan.

Santiago advised the complainants to let the court resolve the petition for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and injunction before they file cases before the Ombudsman. If the complainants would do otherwise, the Ombudsman would have to wait for the court’s decision before it can act on the complaint.

Mandaue City Administrator James Abadia said no one is being forced to move to the Paknaan lot. He said the Philcadan members who are opposed to the project cannot question the title of the lot because only the court could rule on its validity. (FREEMAN)