Cuenco back at City Hall

CEBU, Philippines — “All is well that ends well.”

This was the statement of newly reinstated Cebu City Councilor James Anthony Cuenco after the “smooth transition of administration” of his office at the City Hall yesterday.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, the standard bearer of Partido Barug, initiated a meeting that led to the smooth transition and turnover of pending legislations of former councilor Erik Miguel Espina.

With the rumors of internal conflict of the local group, Cuenco clarified that he remains a friend of Espina.

Espina was the one who replaced Cuenco when the latter was dismissed from the service in October 2017 over serious dishonesty and grave misconduct over his alleged involvement in the misuse of the P3.3 million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocation of his father, former Cebu City south district congressman Antonio Cuenco.

Espina, who was recommended by then Barug Team Rama now Partido Barug through the United Nationalist Alliance, was then appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte last July 2018.

Last October 2018, Cuenco was exonerated by the Court of Appeals which reversed the decision of the anti-graft office.

Even if he will function as member of the City Council for only less than six months before his term ends, Cuenco assured Espina that the pending legislations will be studied and pushed through.

“I thank him (Espina) for ably filling the position while I was gone,” Cuenco said.

He added that he is happy to be back after 15 months of being away from the position.

Espina, for his part, said his decision to withdraw his candidacy is still there, saying that the documents are being readied for the submission.

But he said he is being sensitive to the pleadings of his local party mates, the reason why he has yet to decide if he will submit his documents to the Commission on Elections.

“Some of my colleagues say that even if I withdraw officially, my name would be in the ballots. That’s one. Number two, some say it would weaken the team,” he added.

After the smooth transition, Labella commended Espina and Cuenco for their sign of unity and solidarity as members of the opposition group.

“I salute to Erik and I commend James Cuenco for both of them are perfect gentlemen. And these are the kind of public servants that we need for the local government and the bureaucracy,” Labella said. — GAN (FREEMAN)