Espina vows to vacate seat for Cuenco’s return

CEBU, Philippines — After almost four months in office, Cebu City Councilor Erik Miguel Espina is now getting ready to vacate his seat in the City Council after the Court of Appeals has ordered the reinstatement of Councilor James Anthony Cuenco.

Espina vowed to immediately step down as soon as he gets the order from the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Espina, who replaced Cuenco after the latter was dismissed from the service, said he is glad that his political ally was cleared by the appellate court.  He said that the ruling of the Court of Appeals “clear the air of suspicion over the good name of the Cuencos.”

“We will just wait for the order of DILG. It’s not my habit to grab on position. I did not actively seek for this appointment but thankful pod ta sa chance to serve,” Espina said.

Espina was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte to replace Cuenco, whom the Office of the Ombudsman dismissed from service over serious dishonesty and grave misconduct for alleged misuse of P3.3 million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of his father, former Cebu City south district congressman Antonio Cuenco.

In his short stint in the City Council, Espina took pride in pushing to public discourse several issues like the city having no city college and hospital of its own. Espina added that he is even willing to be substituted by the younger Cuenco in his candidacy as City Councilor for the South District in the 2019 midterm elections.

CA reversed and set aside the anti-graft body’s ruling owing to lack of evidence. The court ordered DILG to reinstate the younger Cuenco to his position as City Councilor.

Cuenco, for his part, heaved a sigh of relief since the program of his father happened over 16 years ago.

“Justice has been done and done correctly. Over a year ago, I was taken aback by a decision and order to be dismissed from service for alleged irregularities committed during my engagement as my father’s chief of staff in Congress sometime in 2002,” he told reporters.

Cuenco questioned the “hastiness” in implementing the dismissal order, claiming that there was a “lack of due process” in removing him from the City Council. He thanked Espina for honoring the latter’s commitment to vacate the post once the court decision comes out.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella said the Barug-PDP Laban welcomes the exoneration of Cuenco, saying that he expected this since the beginning.

“Both the criminal and administrative cases were dismissed. That’s a very happy ending for all of us and of course we look forward for James Cuenco for the next elections, well it’s up for him to decide,” Labella told reporters.

Labella clarified that the group will not replace the candidacy of Espina in favor of the younger Cuenco since the latter’s father is also running for City Councilor next year.

As to the plan of replacing the older Cuenco in his candidacy, Labella said the Cuencos will be the one to decide. But, Councilor Cuenco said he will not replace the candidacy of his father, saying he has seen the eagerness of his father to be back in the public service despite his age. (FREEMAN)