Mandaue mayor taps Fortuna

Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes is recruiting a political rival as one of his consultants.

He confirmed that he is retaining the services of former vice mayor Carlo Fortuna, who is a lawyer.

Cebu Daiy News earlier obtained a copy of Fortuna’s still-unsigned one-year consultancy contract.

Fortuna, in a separate interview, said the mayor invited him to join his administration as a consultant for assets and properties.

Under his draft contract, Fortuna would collect, study and assess data on assets and properties of Mandaue City and prepare reports on the use and management of such properties.

“All I can confirm is that I have been asked to be part of his administration as a consultant. I couldn’t refuse him—we’re not enemies. It just happened that we belong to different political lineup,” Fortuna said.

In a talk with the mayor last September, Fortuna said he refused to be an advisor on political affairs and legislative affairs since it may compromise his affiliation with the opposition party.

Fortuna ran and lost to Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede last year.

“I begged off out of delicadeza because it may compromise the mayor. I can’t answer any questions about the contract since I haven’t signed anything,” he said.

After the elections, Fortuna worked for a legal team headed by Rosal Castillo. Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos