Cortes challenges suspension

CEBU, Philippines — Suspended Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes has filed before the Office of the Ombudsman in Manila a motion to seek reconsideration of his suspension for one year without pay.

In a press conference last Friday, Mandaue City administrator Atty. Jamaal James Calipayan said that the motion for reconsideration was filed last  August 29, before the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City.

Calipayan said that the mayor was given 10 days to file the motion of reconsideration from the time he received the order of suspension last August 21. The ten-day period will lapse on September 2, 2024 since September 1 is a Sunday.

Without elaborating much as to the details of the mayor’s arguments on his motion for reconsideration, Calipayan said that the prayer of the mayor is for the dismissal of the administrative case against him or at least a reduction of the penalty imposed on him.

“Mao g’yud na ang atong prayer nga if ever dili g’yud ma-dismiss ang complaint, nga unya ma-lessen ang penalty. Wala sad namo gibutang kung pila ka months but ma-lessen lang,” said Calipayan.

In an earlier interview, Cortes described the penalty as “too harsh” as he maintained that his designation of Camilo Basaca Jr., as officer-in-charge of the City Social Welfare Services Office (CSWSO) was done in good faith.

To recall, the Office of the Ombudsman suspended Cortes for one year without pay by the after he was found guilty of grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, for the illegal appointment of Basaca

Meanwhile, the administrative complaint against Basaca was dismissed for insufficiency of evidence.

An administrative complaint was filed by complainants Sereno Gabayan Monsanto, Rosimay Cali Caling, and Annabel Dela Cerna Andebor against Cortes and Basaca, claiming that the designation of Basaca violates Section 483 of Republic Act No. 7160 (RA 7160), otherwise known as the Local Government Code.

Complainants said that Basaca does not possess the required eligibility and qualifications for the position of CSWSO as he is not a duly-licensed social worker and has not acquired experience in the practice of social work for at least five years.

The complainants said that Cortes violated certain provisions of the law when he designated Basaca as CSWSO OIC because the latter isn’t eligible and qualified to the said position.

Cortes and Basaca denied the allegations against them in their joint counter-affidavit and maintained that the designation of Basaca as OIC is compliant with the existing rules and regulations governing designations.

With Cortes is serving his suspension, Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede took over as acting mayor while Councilor Nerissa Soon Ruiz is now the acting vice mayor. — (FREEMAN)