EDITORIAL - Espina does not have to withdraw

Anticipating the reinstatement of dismissed Cebu City Councilor James Cuenco, appointed Councilor Erik Espina has resigned from the City Council and is withdrawing his candidacy in the midterm elections next year.

Espina was appointed to the council by President Rodrigo Duterte last July after the Office of the Ombudsman dismissed Cuenco from service over the misuse of P3.3-million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocation of his father, former Cebu City South District representative Antonio Cuenco.

The Court of Appeals, however, found Cuenco innocent and reversed the Ombudsman decision, clearing him of any liability in the P3.3-million PDAF allocation. This paves the way for his return to the council.

To show that he is not blocking Cuenco’s return, Espina said he is stepping down from the council. The appointed councilor, however, admitted to The FREEMAN that someone asked him to resign.

“Ako, importante pud nako ang trust. Kon dudahan man gani ko nga naay gibuhat para dili makabalik si Cuenco, dili ko ana. Mo-resign ko para to show nga wala koy problema g’yud,” Espina told reporters.

It was wise for Espina to resign. He has no business holding on to his post even just for a day knowing the fact that Cuenco’s exoneration from the corruption case would only mean he has every right to reclaim his council seat.

Espina was appointed to the council on account of Cuenco’s dismissal by the Ombudsman. And it’s just natural for him to quit considering the fact that the man he replaced has the moral obligation to continue serving his term as mandated by the law.

The only thing that Espina should not have considered was the decision to withdraw his candidacy in the May elections. If he indeed felt the city deserves his mandate to serve, then it is his duty to run for the council.