Cortes insists no bribery in issuance of Supreme Court TRO

Local

WHILE former Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes is celebrating another chance to run for reelection, he clarified that the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) he secured from the Supreme Court (SC) was granted fairly, dismissing allegations of a P1-billion bribe.

The TRO prevents the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from canceling his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) or excluding his name from the list of candidates for the 2025 National and Local Elections.

Cortes described the bribery accusations as baseless, asserting that they undermine both his integrity and that of the SC. He emphasized that the TRO was a result of merit, not monetary influence.

“Og tinuod man gane na, mupahuway ta oy. Pahuway ta sa politika. Dili na tinuod. Insulto kaayo na sa SC… Ako taas kaayo ko og respeto sa justice system,” said Cortes.

Cortes’ legal counsel, Atty. Joselito Baena of Rama Baena Tan & Ang (RBTA) Law Offices, explained that the TRO ensures Cortes' inclusion on the ballot while his legal case is under review.

Baena highlighted that the Supreme Court’s decision serves as a critical reminder of fairness in the electoral process.

Legal struggles

Cortes faced a series of legal setbacks that culminated in his disqualification from the 2025 mayoral race.

In August 2024, the Office of the Ombudsman suspended him for one year without pay, citing grave misconduct over allegations of appointing an unqualified individual to a city government post.

The controversies deepened in October 2024 when the Ombudsman dismissed Cortes from office, this time for allegedly allowing a batching plant to operate without proper business and environmental permits, which is a separate case of grave misconduct.

Despite the mounting legal challenges, Cortes filed his COC for the 2025 elections a day before his dismissal order took effect. The move temporarily shifted his political fortunes when the Supreme Court issued a TRO later that month, halting Comelec from disqualifying him.

The brief reprieve proved short-lived when Comelec invalidated Cortes' COC, accusing him of material misrepresentation for not disclosing the pending cases against him.

Determined to salvage his mayoral bid, Cortes filed a petition for certiorari with the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn Comelec's decision to cancel his candidacy.

Mass and prayer rally

After the press conference on Tuesday, January 21, Cortes, along with Mandaue City Mayor Glenn Bercede and congressional candidate Atty. Regal Oliva, attended a thanksgiving mass at the National Shrine of St. Joseph.

Bercede underscored the need for justice, particularly in situations involving political maneuvers that aim to disenfranchise leaders.

Cortes shared that his candidacy is rooted in transparency and his commitment to serving the people of Mandaue.

He expressed gratitude to his supporters and vowed to remain steadfast as the 2025 campaign season progresses. Team Mandaue expressed confidence in their chances, believing that justice would ultimately prevail.(MyTVCebu)