Wednesday, May 14, 2008 Jonas says info can link detractors to plot to steal MCC papers, kill him
MANDAUE City Mayor Jonas Cortes yesterday lashed at his detractors, saying he has information that connects them to the alleged plot to steal Mandaue City College (MCC) documents and to kill him.
He said Katrina Cortes, Dr. Paulus Cañete’s trusted aide, is the daughter of Edgar Cortes, who ran against him but was declared a nuisance candidate by the
Commission on Elections. Edgar, he said, is a relative of Councilor Victor Biaño, making Katrina the councilor’s relative.
Based on alleged squealer Gavino Cabahug’s affidavit, Katrina was the one who contacted Teonil Cordova for the job. Cordova, in turn, contacted Cabahug.
Cabahug alleged Cañete contracted him to steal MCC records and to kill the mayor.
His cooperation with police resulted in the arrest of Cañete last Friday. He was allegedly in possession of an unlicensed gun. The school official is currently out on a P60,000-bail.
Biaño, one of the mayor’s critics, was earlier quoted as saying that he would not discount the possibility that the mayor pressured police to build a case against Cañete.
He admitted that Edgar is both his and the mayor’s relative.
But Biaño said the mayor should prove his allegation that Edgar was involved in the alleged plot.
During the last mayoral elections, Edgar’s runningmate was Benjamin Luage.
His candidates for councilors were Edgar de la Cruz, Rio Bert Branoco and Marilou Namocatcat.
Except for Edgar, everyone in his slate is now an MCC official. This prompted Cortes to charge Cañete with unlawful appointment and malversation of public funds at the anti-graft office last month.
The mayor said they were appointed less than a year after losing in the elections, which is against the law.
Meanwhile, the fate of MCC students now rests on the inventory on school records, equipment and supplies. The inventory might take a week to complete, said MCC caretaker Dr. Susana Cabahug.
After that, students are free to get their academic records, enroll back at the school or transfer to another school, she said. Classes start on June 9.
The inventory team, headed by Commission on Higher Education 7 official Dr. Josefino Ronquillo, yesterday also asked for additional city personnel to conduct simultaneous inventory on academic and finance records.
The academic record is a list of students and their respective grades, while the financial record contains receipts and payments made by and to the school, including the payroll and list of teachers and personnel. (OCP)
