CEBU, Philippines — Mandaue City Mayor Glenn Bercede said he received an order from the Office of the Ombudsman - Central Office directing him and former mayor Jonas Cortes to submit their position paper for the administrative aspect on a grave misconduct complaint filed against them.
The complaint was filed by Mandaue City residents Karina Labos of Barangay Pagsabungan and Lea May Miñoza of Barangay Lower Tabok.
The complainants accused Bercede and Cortes of usurpation and grave misconduct when the current mayor allegedly allowed Cortes to continue functioning as a mayor despite the latter's one-year suspension.
Bercede, in a press conference on Tuesday, said he is leaving his fate up to God.
"Come what may, thy will be done,” Bercede said, adding he is ready to be suspended anytime.
Bercede, however, said he wondered why the Ombudsman’s notice was sent in a "rush" through a private courier, which is not normal since notices of the anti-graft office are usually send via registered mail.
“The order was delivered on Jan. 15, 2025 unya nadawat nako pag Jan. 18, 2025. Gipa-rush gyud, makaduda kaayo ngano dili registered mail. Klaro nga gigastuhan gyud ang pagpadala ani,” said Bercede.
Bercede, during the thanksgiving and prayer rally organized by the camp of Cortes on Tuesday, said he would not be surprised if a suspension order will be issued against him.
He said trolls from the rival party have been bragging about it since December 15, 2024.
"Matud pa sa nga trolls, ma-suspenso ko inig December 15, unya inig January 15 na sad. Sila man sad na ang nag ingon nga ma-suspenso si Mayor Jonas, unya nasuspenso gyud. Mao na ako, di na lang ko mahibong nga i-suspenso ko,” Bercede said before the over 1,000 supporters that turned up for the rally.
The rally was organized after the Supreme Court (SC) en banc issued a temporary restraining order, stopping the Commission on Elections from cancelling Cortes' certificate of candidacy and deleting his name from the list of candidates for the position of mayor in the 2025 midterm elections.
In the same press conference, Cortes just laughed off insinuations from his critics that he gave P1 billion to the SC in order to get a ruling in favor of him.
"Kun tinuod man gani na, mamahuway ta uy. Mamahuway ta sa politika,” said Cortes.
He pointed out that the TRO issuance was based on merits and not because he gave monetary consideration to the high court.
“Insulto sad kaayo na sa Supreme Court. Taas ko og respeto sa atong Justice System,” said Cortes.
Before the end of the press conference, Cortes received his personal copy of the SC's en banc notice of the TRO, which will take effect on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025.
“God is good, all the time. Mapasalamaton kaayo ko sa Supreme Court sa issuance of the TRO, which is trully an affirmation of the Supreme Court as the bastion of democracy, which shall ensure fairness and justice in this crucial time. Gidungog gyud ang pag-ampo sa mga taga-Mandaue. Nalipay ko nga nakab-ot nato ang initial victory. Hustisya ang atong gipangita nga wala gyud nato nakita sa dugay na nga panahon. Karon makaingon ta, the Supreme Court is truly impartial,” said Cortes in his opening statement.
Cortes held the press conference, together with his legal counsels Atty. Joselito Thomas Baena and Atty. Joshua Monsanto, the entire Team Mandaue slate and allied city councilors, who were all delighted with this recent SC order.
“Pero initial victory pa lang kini. Mao nga padayon ang ating pag-ampo,” says Cortes during the rally. —/JG (FREEMAN)