Cuenco open to run for city councilor

CEBU, Philippines — Running for a seat at the highly-divisive Cebu City Council is among the options of former Cebu City south district congressman Antonio Cuenco is considering in his bid to return to the political arena next year.

Cuenco, in a phone interview with The FREEMAN yesterday, said there is a possibility for him to run for city councilor if ever suspended councilor James Anthony Cuenco will not be reinstated.

In October 2017, James was suspended from service after the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas found him guilty for serious dishonesty and grave misconduct for using falsified documents in the disbursement of public funds.

James is appealing the decision before the Court of Appeals.

Cuenco said his son is already aware of his political plans. James had earlier said he would like to go back to the council if the CA grants his appeal but he will no longer run for another elective post after.

Cuenco said there is a high chance he will win as city councilor instead of pursuing a seat at the House of Representatives, which is presently occupied by Cebu City south district Representative Rodrigo Abellanosa. Cuenco considers Abellanosa as “having a lot of resources.”

“Yes I want to win if I find the difficulties nianang congressman. You know my opponent is the incumbent and he has lots of money. He is a billionaire, that’s one thing to think about,” Cuenco said.

To recall, Cuenco disclosed back in April that he might run for Congress after an initial consultation with some barangay captains and incumbent city councilors during the political meeting he hosted at his old house in Barangay Guadalupe.

But yesterday, he claimed that numerous supporters have already expressed support for him to run for city councilor.

“Yes definitely, suma sa akong gikonsulta kung molansar ko pagka-councilor. I don’t have problems. I don’t have to spend money. I will win by big margin. If congressman, it’s a 50-50 affair,” Cuenco said.

Team Rama or BOPK?

Which camp will he pick if ever?

Cuenco said he already informed the Barug Team Rama PDP-Laban councilors about his plans.

But he said majority of the incumbent officials also wanted him to run for Congress again. The FREEMAN tried to get comments of Barug Team Rama PDP-Laban officials but they were unavailable as of this writing.

“Yes I told them that it’s possible (running for council). But it’s not yet final. But niingon si Raymond Garcia divided man gud sila –many want me to run for congressman, kadaghanan nila,” Cuenco said.

Cuenco clarified that at this point, nothing is yet final.

There will be consultations and a survey will be run a week before the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) this October.

Cuenco said he will reveal his final decision at the right time.

If elected as a city councilor, among Cuenco’s priorities will be to establish a government hospital which offers free services to the constituents in Barangay Guadalupe.

A seasoned public servant, Cuenco started his political career at the age of 29 as congressman between 1965 and 1969. He had also been a member of the past 8th, 9th, and 10th Congresses in 1987 until 1998 and Batasang Pambansa in 1984 to 1986.

Then, on May 18, 2007, he was elected once again as congressman of Cebu City south district.

He also said a city council seat will not be “degrading” to him since his objective is to deliver services for the public. — JMD (FREEMAN)