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CEBU CITY — Former Mandaue mayor Jonas Cortes clarified that there was no P1 billion payment to secure his return to the mayoral race and denied allegations of bribery linked to the Supreme Court's issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) in his favor.
The TRO halted the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from disqualifying Cortes or removing his name from the list of candidates for the 2025 elections.
MAYOR MEETS SUPPORTERS Former Mandaue City mayor Jonas Cortes addresses supporters after a thanksgiving mass at the National Shrine of St. Joseph on Jan. 21, 2025, during which occasion he denied allegations of a P1 billion bribery linked to the Supreme Court's issuance of a temporary restraining order that prevented his disqualification from the 2025 mayoral race. PHOTO BY KAISER JAN FUENTES
Cortes described the bribery rumors, which are spreading in various online posts, as "baseless," asserting that such accusations only served to undermine his integrity and the credibility of the Supreme Court.
"If it were true, then I'd step down from politics. That's simply not the case, and it's an insult to the Supreme Court. I hold the justice system in the highest regard," he said.
Cortes' legal counsel, Joselito Baena, said that the TRO ensures that Cortes will remain on the ballot while his legal cases are still under review.
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Cortes has been facing a series of legal hurdles that have complicated his reelection bid.
In August 2024, the Office of the Ombudsman suspended him for one year for grave misconduct over allegations of appointing an unqualified individual to a city government position.
This was followed by his dismissal from office in October 2024, over a separate case alleging he permitted an unlicensed batching plant to operate without the proper business and environmental permits.
Despite these setbacks, Cortes filed his COC for the 2025 elections a day before the dismissal order took effect. Shortly after, the high court issued the TRO, temporarily blocking Comelec's effort to disqualify him from the race.
However, the Comelec later invalidated Cortes' COC, accusing him of material misrepresentation for not disclosing his pending cases.
To defend his candidacy, Cortes filed a petition for certiorari with the Supreme Court on Jan. 2, 2025, requesting the reversal of Comelec's decision to cancel his COC.
On Tuesday, Jan. 21, Cortes attended a thanksgiving mass at the National Shrine of St. Joseph with Mandaue City Mayor Glenn Bercede and congressional candidate Regal Oliva.
Bercede emphasized the importance of justice and fairness in political struggles, particularly against actions aimed at disenfranchising leaders.
Cortes reiterated his commitment to transparency in public service, expressing gratitude to his supporters.
He vowed to continue his campaign with determination as the 2025 election season unfolds, confident that justice will ultimately prevail.
Team Mandaue remained optimistic, believing in its chances for a favorable outcome.
