A JOB order employee under the office of reelectionist San Fernando Vice Mayor Jimmy Lazatin was accused of spying on Councilor Angie Hizon, who is also running for vice mayor in the 2019 midterm elections.
Mark Alvin Cortez, a resident of Barangay Bulaon, was allegedly caught taking photographs and videos of Hizon during two separate Christmas parties for senior citizens on November 14 and 15.
Hizon filed a case of unjust vexation against Cortez, who was brought to the city police Community Police Action Center 3 in Barangay Sindalan.
The suspect was later taken to the city police station in Barangay Maimpis where he was detained overnight. He is now out on bail after paying a P3,000 bond.
Upon learning about what Cortez did, Hizon said she confronted Cortez but the latter denied the accusations.
Hizon said she allowed Cortez to leave but the latter allegedly raised his middle finger to Hizon while walking away.
Cortez's behavior, the official said, prompted her to seek the assistance of Barangay Maimpis officials and city police.
During interrogation, Cortez allegedly admitted that he was working as Lazatin's advance party during events but insisted that he was taking videos of all public officials.
Files recovered from Cortez's smartphone, however, showed only Hizon's videos and photographs.
Several text messages from different contacts named as “OCVM”, “A Nika ocvm” and “Fre” recovered from another cellphone also owned by Cortez showed conversations purportedly monitoring Hizon's activities.
The same contacts were also texting and calling Cortez during the course of his arrest, asking why he was not answering, and gave instructions on what to say if he will be questioned about his actions.
After he was released from detention, Cortez explained: “As an advance party of my boss (Lazatin), I roam around public gatherings which he will attend to check on the situation and the officials present and report to his close-in staff. Besides, it was a public gathering so I do not see any wrong in taking photographs.”
According to Cortez, he never disrespected Hizon by flashing a bad finger at her.
“Who am I to bad finger someone like Councilor Angie Hizon? She is an elected official and I am just a plain citizen. I cannot do that and I never did that. In fact, I even paid respect to her when I saw her because he was my former boss,” Cortez stressed.
Cortez’s mother Victoria cried foul over the malicious accusations made by Hizon, saying his son can never do such thing.
Cortez also had the incident recorded in the city police blotter on Saturday, November 17, or a day after he was released. He said he presented his side in the police record to clear his name.
“I just want to clear my name from the wrong accusations thrown at me, and to also ensure the security of my family who might be tagged into this,” he said.
Sought for reaction on the blotter report filed against her, Hizon said, “I was not the one who did wrong here. Why are they so afraid of their own ghost?”
Meanwhile, Lazatin’s executive assistant Michelle Canlas confirmed in a statement that Cortez is indeed a job order employee under the Office of the City Mayor.
“Yes. Mark Alvin Cortez is a project-based employee. I deployed him to do advance party work, just like all other officials did. I specifically asked him to list the people who are present in the event, so that they would later on be properly acknowledged, and to report what happens during the event especially during the senior citizens' party. That was all I asked him to do,” Canlas said.
Canlas, however, said that she did not give any instruction to Cortez to take pictures nor a video of any officials.
“I have not given any instruction to Mr. Cortez to take pictures nor a video. I am saddened that the act of an overly excited staff who was trying to earn the good graces of his supervisor would be put into so such predicament. We know that the event was a public event and that said personality involved was a public official and such event and official would always be subject to acts such as people taking their pictures,” she added.
She also disclosed that the Office of the City Vice Mayor will conduct its own investigation.
“We are currently doing our own investigation. We cannot speculate on the facts that transpired, nor those complained of. We hope for fairness and understanding so as not to judge quickly. Thank you very much,” Canlas said.