The Court of Appeals has cleared former Mandaue City mayor Jonas Cortes of grave misconduct in the Suprea batching plant case. The decision reverses an earlier Ombudsman ruling that dismissed him from office and barred him from public service.
In a decision promulgated on July 25, 2025, the appellate court’s Fifth Division granted Cortes’ petition and set aside the Ombudsman’s September 26, 2024 ruling. The court found no substantial evidence of corruption or bad faith on his part regarding the operations of a cement batching plant in Barangay Labogon.
On May 7, 2026, the Court of Appeals denied motions for reconsideration and affirmed the dismissal of the administrative complaint. In a statement released on May 21, 2026, Cortes described the outcome as a victory for truth and fairness, thanking supporters and the justices involved.
The controversy began with complaints in 2022 over the plant operating without required permits. While the administrative case is now dismissed, Cortes still faces separate criminal proceedings under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
