Bet’s services as consultant quizzed

CEBU, Philippines – Mandaue City Councilor Beethoven Andaya on Wednesday questioned lawyer Carlo Fortuna’s consultancy services with the city, saying the latter should give it up since he is running for vice mayor in the coming elections.

“Out of delicadeza, isn’t it necessary that you resign as a consultant?” Andaya asked Fortuna when the latter showed up before the City Council on Wednesday to share his accomplishments as consultant.

Fortuna, the city’s consultant on legislative matters, said under the rules of the Commission on Elections, only the appointees in public posts should resign from their job when they filed their certificates of candidacy.

His appointment being “contractual” in nature, he said his length of service as a consultant is not affected by this order.

“The councilor may be confused of the rules of the Comelec that only those holding appointive positions should resign. I am only a consultant, and being a consultant I render my services on a contractual basis,” said Fortuna.

Fortuna was the vice mayor in 2007 to 2010.

He said if there is a need for him to quit, it is already up to Mayor Jonas Cortes who appointed him to the post.

“I work under the pleasure of the mayor. As a consultant, I extend assistance to the mayor. So if he does not need my assistance anymore, I’ll gladly accept it. It is up to him to renew my contract or not,” he said.

Andaya also questioned Fortuna’s two performance reports (one is dated January to June 2015 and the other, July-December 2015).

He claimed that these reports are “identical” and that Fortuna only showed two accomplishments for the entire year. He said while other consultants presented 10 pages worth of their accomplishments, Fortuna only showed a few.

Andaya described them as “not reliable” as there were reportedly no pertinent documents to support Fortuna’s claims that he did those.

The former vice mayor presented the council his involvement with the Cebu International Convention Center Board wherein he represented the city in decision-making for the elephant facility.

He said there are already plans to restore CICC using the P400-million budget from the national government. He said he was also reportedly instrumental in finding ways to address the burgeoning traffic problems in the city’s major streets.

“The performance of my duties depends on the mayor,” he said.

Andaya said it should also be the council that gets to decide whether or not the city will renew Fortuna’s contract. To this, presiding officer and Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede said his accomplishment reports will be evaluated first.

In the May elections this year in Mandaue City, Andaya is One Cebu’s bet for vice mayor while Fortuna is the running mate of sixth district Representative Luigi Quisumbing under the Liberal Party. - Liv G. Campo (FREEMAN)