Archival faces Ombud complaint over Monterrazas property
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival is facing an Ombudsman complaint over his handling of the controversial Monterrazas de Cebu development. The complainant alleges that the mayor and his spouse own a 713-square-meter property inside the subdivision, while Archival repeatedly rejected calls to halt the project.
Former government official Ed Karlon Rama filed the complaint-affidavit before the Office of the Ombudsman Area Office for the Visayas in Cebu City on August 19. He accuses Archival of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, as well as administrative offenses including grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
Rama asked the Ombudsman to conduct a preliminary investigation and, upon finding probable cause, file the appropriate criminal charges against Archival. He also requested administrative proceedings and the mayor's preventive suspension pending resolution of the complaint.
Property inside Monterrazas
Rama alleged that Archival and his spouse own Lot 6, Block 5 of Monterrazas Subdivision, a 713-square-meter property covered by a transfer certificate of title entered in Cebu City on October 18, 2022. The complaint identified the property under Plan No. PCS-07-007993 and said it was acquired through a sale from Genvi Development Corp. A tax declaration lists the property's assessed value at P47,060 and market value at P2.3529 million.
Rama said certified true copies of the title and tax declaration formed part of his complaint. He argued that the property connects Archival's private interest to the development whose regulatory status he has publicly addressed as city mayor. The complainant further alleged that Archival did not disclose his and his spouse's ownership of the property or recuse himself while opposing calls for a cease-and-desist order (CDO) against Monterrazas.
Second Ombudsman case since 2025
The complaint is the second case filed before the Ombudsman against Archival since he assumed office as Cebu City mayor in 2025. The first, filed by Councilor Pastor