Ex-Mandaue mayor rejoins Duterte-led PDP-Laban

Local

By MyTVCebu Desk

NEARLY two years after leaving the Duterte-led Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP), former Mandaue City mayor and defeated 2025 mayoral candidate Jonas Cortes has formally rejoined the political party.

This, amid his continuing legal and political comeback efforts.

In a statement released Sunday, May 24, Cortes announced that he had officially returned to PDP. He expressed gratitude to party leaders and reaffirmed his commitment to its principles and platform.

“It is a profound honor to once again be warmly welcomed and officially become part of PDP,” Cortes said.

“With deep gratitude and a renewed sense of responsibility, I have solemnly reaffirmed my commitment to uphold the party’s Constitution and remain steadfast in its guiding principles of freedom, solidarity, justice, equity, social responsibility, self-reliance, efficiency, enlightened nationalism, and the pursuit of a federal system of government,” he added.

Cortes also thanked Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, also known as “Baste,” who currently serves as PDP president.

“My heartfelt appreciation also goes to Mayor Baste, President of PDP, for his confidence in my capabilities and for recognizing my potential to contribute meaningfully to the ideals and mission of the party,” Cortes said.

The former mayor did not specify what prompted his return to the party or whether the move signals plans for another electoral bid.

Cortes resigned from PDP in May 2024, shortly after Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia also left the party amid tensions involving suspended Cebu City mayor Michael Rama.

At the time, Cortes said his resignation was driven by his commitment to maintain political unity with Garcia and align Mandaue City with the provincial administration-led One Cebu party.

“As the mayor of Mandaue City, (my) priority is to align with initiatives that promote and serve our community’s best interest,” Cortes said in his May 2024 resignation letter addressed to then PDP president Jose Alvarez.

Cortes was among Cebu officials endorsed by former president Rodrigo Duterte during the 2019 elections.

His resignation came just weeks after PDP formally amended its name by dropping the word “Laban,” short for “Lakas ng Bayan,” during the party’s 42nd anniversary celebration in Cebu City in April 2024.

The Duterte-aligned faction led by former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi approved the amendment without objections during a party gathering streamed online.

Founded in Cebu City in 1982 by late Senate president Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and opposition figures during the Marcos dictatorship, PDP later merged with Lakas ng Bayan founded by slain senator Benigno Aquino Jr., forming the PDP-Laban coalition that rose to prominence during the presidency of Corazon Aquino.

The party regained national prominence when Duterte won the presidency in 2016.

Cortes’ return to PDP also comes days after he announced fresh legal victories in the long-running administrative case tied to the operations of SUPREA Phils. Development Corp. in Barangay Labogon, Mandaue City.

Last week, Cortes said the Court of Appeals had twice ruled in his favor by reversing the Ombudsman’s September 2024 decision that found him guilty of grave misconduct and ordered his dismissal from service.

The appellate court later affirmed its ruling in a May 7, 2026 resolution after denying motions seeking reconsideration of the case.

In its decision, the Fifth Division of the Court of Appeals ruled that the Ombudsman failed to establish substantial evidence proving Cortes acted with corruption, bad faith, or deliberate intent to violate the law.

The case stemmed from complaints against the operations of the SUPREA cement batching plant, which residents claimed lacked key permits and caused environmental and health concerns in nearby communities.

The Ombudsman had earlier ruled that Cortes failed to act against the company despite alleged permit deficiencies, leading to administrative and criminal complaints against him.

The administrative case also triggered major political repercussions ahead of the 2025 elections, including the cancellation of Cortes’ certificate of candidacy by the Commission on Elections’ First Division.

Although the Supreme Court later stopped the enforcement of the cancellation order through a temporary restraining order, Cortes eventually lost the Mandaue City mayoral race to Thadeo Ouano by more than 7,000 votes.

Cortes has since questioned the election results before the courts, alleging irregularities in the automated election system.(TGP)