Cuenco succumbs to COVID

CEBU, Philippines — Former congressman and now Cebu City Councilor Antonio Cuenco became the latest victim who had succumbed to COVID-19.

His son, former city councilor James Anthony Cuenco, had confirmed the news through a Facebook post.

"My family and I wish to let you know that my father, Councilor and former Congressman Antonio Veloso Cuenco, has succumbed to the lethal effects of the COVID-19 virus. It happened so fast and has left us very shocked to realize that the good man that we have had the opportunity to have as our father (with my siblings Ronald, Antonio Jr and Cynthia) and a good husband to my mother, Nancy, is gone," read the younger Cuenco's post.

"There will be time enough to remember the many things that he dedicated his life to, for our country and for our beloved City. But for now, I wish to request that we be given our space to lay him to rest and to grieve in his untimely passing," he said.

The older Cuenco was earlier confined at a hospital in Cebu City. He was still seen participating in the online session of the City Council last Wednesday.

During the City Council's special session last Friday, the 84-year old councilor went on leave.

"It is something like walking up the stairs in the dark, and thinking there is one more stair to go. Your foot falls down, through the air, and there is a vacuum of a moment of dark surprise as you try and rethink the way you thought of things. Because they will never be the same again," the Facebook post further read.

"Go with God, dad. And may you be in his loving embrace forever. Till we see each other once again," the younger Cuenco concluded.

Councilor Cuenco was the chairman of the Cebu City Council's Committee on Transportation, Communication, Energy, and Other Utilities as well as the Committee on Education, Science and Technology.

He previously served as the Secretary General of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) from 2010 to 2013 and as representative of the 2nd District of Cebu City in the House of Representatives.  GAN (FREEMAN)