Cuenco's PDP-Laban oath taking now on hold

CEBU, Philippines - Former Representative Antonio Cuenco’s supposed oath taking to PDP-Laban is on hold due to some changes in the party.

Cuenco said it is on hold until further notice or until the misunderstandings between the leaders are settled.

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel Jr., who was supposed to administer his oath taking here has already bolted the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), the coalition between PDP-Laban and Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), when UNA included resigned Senator Miguel Zubiri in its senatorial slate for 2013.

But Pimentel is still the President of PDP-Laban. Cuenco said the PDP-Laban also has not broken off with the coalition.

He said that this conflict among the leaders of UNA is delaying his oath taking.

Cuenco however said that it is somehow better that it was postponed because Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, who will be his running mate next year, has not agreed to his plan.

Cuenco said that he might need to wait until Rama has clarified with the Liberal Party, particularly the LP leaders in Manila, his status in the group.

“If Rama will not represent LP here, PDP-Laban can adopt him as our candidate,” Cuenco said.

The former congressman said that PDP-Laban can get Rama as a guest candidate since PDP-Laban has no candidate for mayor in Cebu City.

If the mayor shall represent LP here, Cuenco didn’t say if he will join the LP, but mentioned the possibility of a coalition.

Rama said that coalition between parties is the current trend now so he will not be surprised.

But he said he still does not want Cuenco to join PDP-Laban while he is with LP. He said this was also the advice of some LP leaders in Manila.

“I don’t really want to talk about it kay layo pa ang filing of candidacy,” Rama said.     - THE FREEMAN