Espina to decide: To run or not to run

CEBU, Philippines — By January 2019, appointed Cebu City Councilor Erik Miguel Espina will announce his final decision whether or not to run for public office in the 2019 midterm elections.

Yesterday, he told The FREEMAN that he has to weigh things properly considering that some allies of Partido-Barug asked him to reconsider his earlier decision withdrawing his candidacy.

Last October 17, Espina filed his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) along with his party mates.

He is among Partido-Barug’s bets for the south district.

“As of now, my statement stands. Let us first enjoy the Christmas season with family and prayer,” he said.

This surfaced after he denied insinuations that he will reconsider his decision after meeting up with Councilor James Cuenco and Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino.

Last December 14, Espina announced that he will be withdrawing his candidacy and will be resigning from office effective January 1, 2019.

He said his recent meeting with Dino and Cuenco is to clear the rumors and issues thrown against him that he is holding on to his post as a city councilor.

Earlier, the president has appointed Espina as councilor to replace Cuenco who was earlier dismissed from service over his alleged involvement in the misuse of P3.3 million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocation of his father, former south district congressman Antonio Cuenco.

“Mura ba ug I was holding on to the office, and I was not ready to give it up and then that I may have been the cause of the delay of the return of James Cuenco or there are some maneuvering under the table which are not true, which are unfounded,” Espina said.

In order to drop the issue, he decided to resign which he announced earlier.

Espina said he is not greedy of power, saying he was only an appointed official.

“Wala man ko’y problema. I did not aspire for it, it was given to me. The party said you take it, so in simple term sa tagalog pa, panakip butas. But I took that because I knew I would be replaced. Willingly, I also took the position until and when Cuenco could return whatever the result would be,” he said.

He preferred not to name the person reportedly behind the intrigue.

“Dili lang ko mo-point out kinsa, kay these are all stories unfounded… What people will tell against us should not affect us,” Espina said.

He is grateful that Dino and Cuenco were aware of the truth.  Despite the issues, his relationship with Cuenco remains good.

“What Michael Dino did was to clarify certain allegations, certain suspicions and I was very happy for that kay dako kaayo og natabang si Sec. Dino. It protected my name and honor,” Espina said. — GAN (FREEMAN)