Jumping to another district next election? City north councilor distributes perks to south district barangays

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu City Councilor Augustus "Jun" Pe Jr. brushed aside speculations that "politics" was behind in the distribution of patrol vehicles and garbage trucks to the city's south district barangays.

Talks have been circulating that Pe, who is on his third and last term as city councilor in the north district, is planning to run for city councilor in the south dis-trict on 2013.

In an interview with The FREEMAN, Pe did not deny or confirm of the rumors. He said he is busy attending to the needs of his constituents, especially the con-cerns of his committee.

Pe is a registered voter in Capitol Site but resides in Banawa, Barangay Guadalupe. He said that the distribution of the city's vehicles at the City Hall ground today was based on requests received prior to the May 2010 elections.

Four of the five barangays that will receive their garbage trucks belong to the south. These are barangays Budlaan, Basak Pardo, Buhisan and Mambaling, while only Pahina Central belongs to the north.

Five units of patrol cars will also be given to Barangays Basak San Nicolas, Tabunan, Buot-Taop, Sudlon I and San Roque.

"The barangays' requests were made before the election. So there is no politics here," Pe said, adding that some north district barangays have already received their vehicles from the city government.

Comelec officer Edwin Cadungog, in a separate interview with The FREEMAN, could not categorically say whether this is illegal.

"The law is silent and it's a gray area," Cadungog said, adding that it is up to the Comelec-Manila to decide the matter.

Unlike former city councilors Hilario Davide III, who transfered his registration in Argao to run for governor, and Gabriel Leyson, who transferred to Talisay City to run for mayor, the case of Pe is different because his transfer will be to a different district within the same city.

"This will be a test case if Councilor Pe will push through with his plan to run in the south district," Cadungog said.

But since it will be three years to go before the election, Cadungog said the matter could not yet be decided until such time that there will be formal complaint to be filed.

"If tinuod man gani modagan siya sa south, if he files, we will accept," the Comelec official said. (FREEMAN)