2 Pasay councilors turn state witness vs ‘Peewee’

Two suspended Pasay City councilors, who were recently reinstated in office, turned state witnesses in the cases filed against former mayor Wenceslao "Peewee" Trinidad.

Councilors Generoso and Ma. Antonieta Cuneta said they decided to turn state witnesses against the previous administration because they want to be on the "side of truth," but denied being political turncoats.

The Cunetas were among those ordered suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman last Sept. 1 for involvement in the alleged anomalous garbage disposal contracts.

"We decided to become state witnesses and filed immunity at the Office of the Ombudsman because our conscience tells us to do so. We knew that there was an anomaly in the contracts entered into by the previous administration and we don’t want to just keep quiet and be indifferent," Antonia said, adding that they are ready to face the consequences of their actions.

She stressed that she and her husband went back to work as councilors for the same party, Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), which also counts Trinidad as member.

"We are still under the PMP, contrary to talks that we jumped ship and joined the other party," Antonia clarified.

Antonia is the daughter-in-law of the late Pablo Cuneta, who served as mayor of the city for more than 30 years. The latter’s son, Generoso, is a half-brother of movie star Sharon Cuneta.

The couple returned to the City Hall immediately after the Ombudsman issued an order for their reinstatement as councilors, while Trinidad, Vice Mayor Antonino Calixto and the eight other councilors were dismissed from office last Friday.