With landholdings he inherited and a net worth of P20.7 million, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes is the richest local chief executive in Metro Cebu.
He’s better off than Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama (P4.4 million), Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza (P14.7 million) and Talisay City Mayor Johnny De Los Reyes (P9.9 million).
However, Cortes is not the wealthiest official in Mandaue City. Councilor Emmarie Dizon is on top of the list with a self-declared net worth of P38.4 million.
Based on his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN), Cortes owns 29 lots mostly handed down by his parents and some with his wife Sarah. Almost half of it or P20.7 million is mostly real estate in Mandaue City and Albuera, Leyte province.
Dizon, daughter of Cebu Provincial Board Member Thadeo Ouano, owns eight residential lots, buildings, and condominiums in Mandaue City and Cebu City as well as an agricultural lot in Opao, Mandaue City—all worth P35.3 million.
She declared a Toyota Grandia van, Honda SUV, Mercedes Benz, Honda CRV, Honda Accord and four motorcycles worth P6.3 million. She declared in her SALN a time deposit (P2 million), some jewelry (P1.8 million), and cash on hand/bank accounts (P400,000).
Dizon has a personal loan worth P7.3 million. She is a shareholder of various businesses including Classic Gem, Vistamar Beach Club, Ayala Sports Club, NS Royal Pensione, NS Shooting Range, and Club Ultima. She also owns franchises in four Jollibee branches, Yo.u Resto, and Red Ribbon in Consolacion.
Mayor Cortes, meanwhile, said he owns a Toyota Altis sedan, a Suzuki Multicab, a Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV, seven motorcycles, and a bicycle all worth P2.7 million.
The mayor declared 13 different kinds of firearms worth P840,000, cash on hand (P447,792), cash in bank (P1.1 million), bonds (P261,000), assorted jewelry (P2 million), old coins (P500,000), and personal drawings (P930,644).
CORTES’ FIXED ASSETS
His liabilities were worth P6.6 million.
Cortes said he has seven relatives working in government: His brother, Mandaue City Councilor Demetrio Cortes; nephew, Centro Barangay Captain Ignacio Cortes; sister-in-law, Grace Cortes who is a clerk in the City Engineering Office; cousin-in-law Juliet, a clerk; cousins Francisco Gonzales (metro aide) and Andres Gonzales (job order worker); and nephew, Alang-alang Barangay Councilor Christian Cortes.
Mandaue City Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede declared a net worth of P11.2 million with six residential properties and a carport worth P4.4 million. The vice mayor also owns a Mitsubishi Eclipse, a Mercedes Benz, a Toyota Fortuner and two motorcycles worth almost P3 million.
His lone liability comes from a P30,000 bank loan.
In the Mandaue City Council, next to Dizon in net worth is Councilor Beethhoven Andaya with P15.15 million, Councilors Nenita Layese (P5.8 million), Jimmy Lumapas (P1.7 million), Jose Jefferson Ceniza (P1.1 million), Demetrio Cortes (P778,000), Ernie Manatad (P740,219), Editha Cabahug (P230,000) and Diosdado Suico (P204,500).
The SALNs of Councilors Elston Dabon and Benjamin Basiga have yet to be released by the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas due to the volume of documents submitted to the office.
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