Cuenco denies hand in charges vs. Guardo

After the Ombudsman cleared him of questionable procurement charges, Cebu City south district Rep. Antonio Cuenco yesterday denied accusations that he inspired the filing of charges against his challenger Jonathan Guardo for alleged issuance of bouncing checks.

"After all is said and done, the complaint against me is pure and simple harassment. It is absolutely baseless in face and in law...in this connection, I also vehemently deny the accusation that I inspired the filing of a suit against my political adversary for issuing bouncing checks. I have nothing to do with that whatsoever," Cuenco said in a press statement.

Last week LBC Express Vis, Incorporated, lodged a criminal complaint against Guardo for allegedly issuing postdated checks as payment for the company’s services.

The complaint, signed by Dandie Bojos, customer associate of LBC Vis Inc., alleged that Guardo issued postdated checks amounting to P150,000 on different occasions. The complaint was subscribed before Assistant City Prosecutor Simaco Labata.

LBC Vis alleged that Guardo issued three checks dated April 20, 2006; May 5, 2006; and May 20, 2006 at P50,000 each. However, when the checks were deposited with the collecting bank, Equitable PCI, they were reportedly dishonored with the notation "DAIF" or Drawn Against Insufficient Funds.

Guardo had said he suspects that the case is politically motivated because it was filed during the election period. But he said he is not worried because he is ready to face it in court.

"Political motive, naa gyud na. But I’m not bothered at all. Political or business-related, it would have no significant impact on my candidacy. I’ll face that in court," Guardo said.

"The propaganda against me that I will buy the south district is not true. Wa man gani sulod akong tseke," he said, adding that the case will not affect his candidacy.

The Ombudsman has cleared Cuenco of allegations that the 20 multicabs purchased through his Priority Development Assistance Fund for barangay Quiot were overpriced. Each multicab allegedly was priced at P300,000 with the purchase amounting to P6 million.

The anti-graft office ruled in Cuenco’s favor after the Quiot barangay captain informed the Ombudsman that no purchase was actually made. RDAK also said no purchase has been made by the barangay.

Menwhile, Cuenco claimed that 10 percent of the barangay councilmen in his district serve as paymasters of Guardo and that they have given at least 7,000 families P1,000 each with a promise of another P1,000 to be given to them during election day.

But in a text message, Guardo denied Cuenco’s claim, saying: "Wa koy pambayad kay niuntol na ako mga tseke."

Guardo also denied Cuenco’s claim that the BO-PK candidates are leading in the surveys. "Kung leading pa, dili unta yak-an ni Tommy (Mayor Tomas Osmeña) ang south." — Joeberth M. Ocao and Fred P. Languido/LPM