Son of ex-Cebu governor to replace Cuenco in City Council

CEBU, Philippines — Dismissed Cebu City Councilor James Anthony Cuenco will soon have a replacement in the person of Erik Espina, son of former Cebu governor and senator Rene Espina.

Former mayor Michael Rama said he is still waiting for President Rodrigo Duterte to sign Espina’s appointment.

Rama, regional chairperson of United Nationalist Alliance, said he already got certification from UNA Chairman Jejomar Binay and Department of the Interior and Local Government Officer-in-Charge Eduardo Año for Espina’s appointment.

 “I worked it out and I was of the stand that it will be released by now. I know it will be soon kay ministerial naman lang na on the part of the president to sign the appointment,” Rama told The FREEMAN.

Last year, the DILG- Cebu City implemented the order of the Office of the Ombudsman dismissing Cuenco from public service.

The anti-graft office found Cuenco guilty of serious dishonesty and grave misconduct over his involvement in the misuse of P3.3 million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocation of his father, former Cebu City south district congressman Antonio Cuenco.

The dismissal from service has accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification to hold public office.

Cuenco was under UNA when he ran for the position in the last May 2016 elections.

Section 45 of the Local Government Code states that “the political party under which the council member concerned had been elected and whose elevation to the position next higher in rank created the last vacancy shall be appointed.”

The same section states that “the appointee shall come from the same political party as that of the Sanggunian member who caused the vacancy and shall serve the unexpired term of the vacant office.”

Cuenco, when sought for comment, welcomed the decision of his party mates.

“Erik’s appointment comes as no surprise to me because from the very start, I told them I was willing to be replaced without prejudice to my appeal before CA. They have waited long enough and have suffered setbacks in the Council because of my absence,” he told The FREEMAN.

Rama said it is about time to add one member at the City Council considering that it has been vacant for over nine months already.

“We are still waiting that James Cuenco’s appeal before Court of Appeals will be resolved. Once James will be exonerated, there’s no automatic resumption of office,” Rama said.

Sought for comment, Espina said he is very humbled.

Espina said serving the public is not new to him considering that his father has served as Cebu governor and senator.

“I’m very humbled because not everybody will be given a chance to serve the city. Lumad ko sa Guadalupe gyud… It’s a familiar territory. And it’s a big responsibility,” he said.

Espina, who is also a media personality, said he is also active in several organizations that are doing charity works silently within the Province of Cebu. — MBG (FREEMAN)