Guardo asks Comelec to disqualify Cuenco

Cebu City south district congressional aspirant Jonathan Guardo yesterday asked the Commission on Elections to disqualify his political opponent, re-electionist Rep. Antonio Cuenco, for engaging in "vote buying."

In his four-page complaint filed before the Comelec, the former city sports consultant alleged that Cuenco''s distribution of accident insurance policy card to several voters in the south district was meant to lure the public to vote for him in the May 14 elections.

The insurance policy card that Cuenco reportedly distributed has a coverage of P100,000.

Guardo attached to his complaint the membership card issued to a certain Michael B. Oyao signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and House Speaker Jose de Venecia.

But Cuenco strongly denied Guardo''s allegations of vote buying because the distribution of the insurance policy card was suspended after the Comelec advised the Lakas-CMD party not to do it.

The insurance policy card reportedly bears the photograph of Cuenco, who is gunning for his third and last term.

Cuenco said they suspended the project after the Comelec advised them that it could be considered a violation of the election laws.

"This is another publicity gimmick of my opponent. Unfortunately, all his gimmicks have failed and I''m confident he is going to fail again," Cuenco said in a one-page press statement.

Guardo used to be an ally of the Bando Osmeña Pundok-Kauswagan, of which Cuenco is a member. - Rene U. Borromeo and Joeberth Ocao/LPM