Ombud told: Probe Cortes

After filing charges in court against Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes last week, the settlers of Mahiga Creek yesterday lodged an administrative and criminal complaint against him at the Office of the Visayas Ombudsman.

Roberto Litaba, president of Philcadan, requested the Ombudsman to investigate Cortes for wasting government funds in buying a lot that is submerged in water.

Litaba was referring to the relocation site for Mahiga Creek residents in barangay Paknaan, Mandaue City.

The Philcadan group also asked the Ombudsman to issue a preventive suspension order against Cortes pending the anti-graft office’s investigation.

Litaba claimed that the relocation site wasn’t the proper area to relocate the settlers because it was planted with mangroves.

Litaba said during high tide the seawater would flood the area and it wasn’t the adequate area for the relocation site.

He said that the mayor had already paid the lot worth more or less P19 million.

The group also called for the Ombudsman to conduct a lifestyle check on Cortes, whom they claimed to have acquired “some other real and personal properties during his incumbency as city mayor.”

Litaba cited Cortes’ purported multi-million house in barangay Bakilid, Mandaue City.

Litaba was one of several individuals living along the Mahiga Creek, who received a demolition notice ordering them to move out of the area.

He said he was not against the order but his group wanted to be transferred to an adequate relocation site.  Reporter Ador Vincent S. Mayol