Mandaue City mayor suspended for 1 year

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has suspended the mayor of Mandaue City in Cebu for one year in connection with the allegedly anomalous appointment of the acting chief of the city social welfare services office.

In a ruling dated Aug. 12, the ombudsman found Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes guilty of grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

The ombudsman dismissed the administrative case filed against Cortes’ co-accused, social welfare services office acting chief Camilo Basaca Jr., for lack of evidence.

Graft investigation and prosecution officer Napoleon Regan Malimas said the offense of grave misconduct, even when committed for the first time, is punishable by dismissal from the service.

But since the case against Cortes has “neither allegation nor was it found that the irregular designation of Basaca was attended with elements of corruption,” Malimas said the ombudsman only penalized the mayor with a one-year suspension.

The ombudsman directed the Department of the Interior and Local Government to implement the suspension order.

Mandaue City administrator Jamaal James Calipayan yesterday confirmed that the Office of the Mayor has received a copy of the decision.

Calipayan said Cortes would comply once the order is properly implemented.

He said Cortes would appeal the decision of the ombudsman.

Calipayan refused to comment when asked if the suspension order could be politically motivated.

He said Cortes’ designation of Basacan as acting chief of the social welfare services office in July 2022 was done in good faith.

SC: Comment on Rama’s plea

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court (SC) has ordered Ombudsman Samuel Martires to comment on a petition filed by suspended Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, who questioned the preventive suspension imposed against him over alleged graft charges.

The SC public information office said the high tribunal gave Martires 10 days to respond to Rama’s petition.

The high court required Martires to comment on Rama’s plea for the issuance of a temporary restraining order.

Rama was suspended in May this year based on complaints filed by some city hall employees, who alleged they were removed from their posts and were not paid for 10 months.

Aside from Rama, a similar order was imposed on seven other city officials including city administrator Collin Rossell and his wife Maria Theresa Rossell, who heads the city treasurer’s office, as well as Lester Joey Beniga, Angelique Cabugao, Francis May Jacaban, Jay-Ar Pescante and Nelyn Sanrojo.

Rama raised his case before the SC after the Court of Appeals denied his petition. – Daphne Galvez