Cuenco eyes Cerge as his successor

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City south district Representative Antonio Cuenco yesterday said he preferred Press Secretary Cerge Remonde to be his successor.

Cuenco said he wanted Remonde to succeed him in Congress from a list of candidates that include Mayor Tomas Osmeña and opposition leader Jonathan Guardo.

“But from among the three, I prefer Cerge, ligdong sya, intelihente. He will make a good legislator and he has good public relations.” Cuenco said.

He admitted that Guardo had approached him to ask for his support but said he has not yet given his final stand.

For the mayoralty post, Cuenco said his heart is still with Vice Mayor Michael Rama, who was his campaign manager in the previous elections.

“I offered Mike my position but it seems he has other plans, so I leave it up to him. I still support him, unless of course if he will oppose my Banawa-Guadalupe bill,” Cuenco said.

The bill, which aims to create the barangay Banawa-Ingles from barangay Guadalupe, is now pending at the Senate committee on local government.

Cuenco said he had appealed to Guadalupe barangay captain Eugenio Faelnar to submit his position on the matter to the Senate committee.

The committee is set to make a report to the plenary but only after Guadalupe submits its position, which was due two months ago.

Cuenco said Faelnar refused to make a position because of the ongoing boundary dispute between Guadalupe and Labangon.

“But when in fact Labangon barangay captain Felix Abella wrote a letter that Labangon does not interpose any objection to the bill dividing Guadalupe and creating (the barangay) Banawa-Ingles,” the lawmaker said.

On the other hand, Cuenco said it is a wrong move for the City Hall to stop the outpatient services at the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC).

“No, that hospital should be supported, that’s the basic of all services. Our health centers are not equipped. Unsa man nga asphalt storm nga mogawas man lang na og eleksyon,” Cuenco said.

Osmeña recently issued an order delegating outpatient services to barangay health centers. The order said no admission will be entertained at CCMC unless the patient will pass through the barangay health center. — Ferliza C. Contratista/LPM (THE FREEMAN)