Remember Carlo? He will work for Jonas as consultant

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes will hire Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna as a consultant on assets and properties.

Last week, the Mayor’s Office drafted a consultancy contract for Cortes’ former political rival.

Fortuna, in a separate interview, said the Cortes camp has been prodding him to be one of city hall’s consultants.

He said he declined the offer because he is busy with his law practice.

Fortuna said he and the mayor met again last September where they had a long talk and the offer to be the adviser on political and legislative affairs came up again. He declined this but was amenable to being a consultant on “assets and properties.”

“Since there was no mention of any political angle, I accepted to be his consultant on assets and properties,” Fortuna said.

When asked if he might join the Cortes camp in the next election, Fortuna said he would just wait and see.

Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede and the members of the council welcomed the mayor’s move.

Fortuna ran and lost to Bercede in last year’s election.

Bercede and Councilor Jimmy Lumapas have acknowledged that Fortuna has the expertise and that the whole council slate was informed beforehand about the mayor’s plan to hire his services.

Bercede said once Fortuna’s consultancy contract reaches the city council, it will immediately be approved.