BOPK: Comelec will reverse Ronald Cuenco's exclusion

CEBU, Philippines - Officials of the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan believe they can convince the Commission on Elections to reconsider its ruling disqualifying Ronald Cuenco from running for councilor in Cebu City.

Of the few incumbent city legislators who are willing to be quoted, councilor Rodrigo “Bebot” Abellanosa, said he believes that the Comelec will reconsider its decision because Cuenco’s application for abandonment of his green card has been received already by the officials of the United States Embassy in Manila.

Councilor Edgardo Labella, who also happens to be the lawyer of Cuenco, is confident that he can convince the Comelec officials to reconsider their ruling because he will submit new evidence to prove that the former city councilor and son of South district Rep. Antonio Cuenco is really a registered voter of the city.

Labella explained he has a document to prove that even before December 2008, Cuenco is already a registered voter of Cebu City, meaning he is qualified to vote and to be elected for any elective position in the place where he resides.

“Klaro man kaayo nga dili na US resident si Ronald kay gi-surrender na man niya ang iyang Resident Alien status sa United States. Unya kay may record man sa Comelec nga siya rehestradong botante, dili malalis nga siya makahimo pagdagan og elective position,” a south district councilor said.

Another city councilor who wished not to be named said the opposition party has tried its best to ensure that it can send even one candidate to the city council, but he said “Wala man gihapon kini’y mahimo kon siya ra’ng usa ang makadaug.”

Labella said he will immediately file a motion for reconsideration of the Comelec’s resolution of Cuenco’s case once he will receive the official copy. 

“I am confident that we can convince the Comelec officials to reconsider their resolution. Wala man god namo maapil kaniadto pag-submit ang document nga si Ronald Cuenco registered voter as of December 2008 kay nagdali-dali mi pag-file sa among answer sa petition,” Labella explained.

While Cuenco was disqualified by the Comelec to run as city councilor, it ruled that the wife of Mayor Tomas Osmeña, Margot, can as she was able to present a copy of a visitor’s visa, a document that would not have been needed had her green card remained valid.

The record at the US Embassy in Manila showed that while Margot renounced her US-issued green card in 2007 yet, Cuenco only presented an application for abandonment of his US Resident Alien status only on Nov. 24 last year, or six days before he filed his certificate of candidacy.

A Permanent Resident’s Card popularly known as green card allows foreigners to live and work for a limited time in the United States. Cuenco lived in the US to take care of his children.

Cuenco exlained that once a person will renounce his US-issued green card it is already considered as approved because the US government will no longer conduct proceedings because it is a prerogative of anybody to abandon his US citizenship.

“Dili man g’yod mamugos ang US government kon ang usa ka tawo nga gihatagan nila’g US permanent resident status gusto na nga mouli niini. It was explained to me by the US consul when I went to Manila,” the mayor’s wife told The FREEMAN. — Rene U. Borromeo/BRP   (FREEMAN NEWS)