The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Second Division has cancelled the Certificate of Candidacy (COC) of dismissed Mandaue City mayor Jonas Cortes because of material and false representation. 

The decision was promulgated on December 18, 2024. 

The cancellation of Cortes’ COC came after a lawyer, Ervin Estandarte, filed a petition that pointed out Cortes committed serious misrepresentation when he declared that he is “eligible for the office” he has aspired to be elected to.

Cortes also marked N/A (to mean “not applicable”) when required to disclose any legal cases filed against him. 

On Thursday, December 19, 2024, Cortes in an official statement cited that he received the decision of the COMELEC evening on December 18, 2024.

He said that the COMELEC erred in stating that he is no longer qualified to run for elective office because of the dismissal and disqualification cases.

“Usa kini ka dako nga sayop sa COMELEC kay ang desisyon sa Ombudsman wala pa na final, ug anaa pa sa proseso sa appeal. Gani, ang issue nga gigamit sa desisyon sa COMELEC, dili mao ang issue nga gipasangil sa ilang petition. Ultimo ang akong gisumitir nga tubag, wala man gani basaha ug konsideraha sa COMELEC. Sa kadaghang mga kombiktado ug disqualified nga politiko nga nidagan karon nga piniliay, gitarget gyud ko,” Cortes underscored in his statement posted on his official social media account. 

(Info courtesy: Comelec 2nd Division, Jonas Cortes/FB)