CEBU, Philippines — The opposition members of the Cebu City Council are not considering to replace dismissed Councilor James Anthony Cuenco because the decision is not yet final.
Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella said the opposition members are optimistic that the Court of Appeals will rule in favor of Cuenco.
“Even at this point, we are not considering of his replacement because until now, the decision is not yet final and executory because there’s a pending appeal,” Labella told The FREEMAN.
To recall, the Department of the Interior and Local Government Cebu City implemented the order of the Office of the Ombudsman dismissing Cuenco from public service.
The anti-graft office found Cuenco guilty of serious dishonesty and grave misconduct over his involvement in the misuse of P3.3 million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocation of his father, former Cebu City south district congressman Antonio Cuenco.
The dismissal from service has accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification to hold public office.
Saying he will exhaust all legal remedies to clear his name, Councilor Cuenco said he filed the appeal last year before the Court of Appeals.
“The latest I heard from my lawyers is that a decision is due to come anytime soon, a month at the most,” he told The FREEMAN.
Labella, for his part, said there is no need for the opposition members to replace Cuenco who was given mandate by the people.
Unfazed by who will rule the City Council, Labella said the group decided to wait until Cuenco will be cleared from the accusations and secure an injunctive relief even if waiting for his return would mean working as minority at the City Council.
“No matter whether we are in the minority or majority, we will continuously perform our job to uphold check and balance principle,” Labella said.
As of now, the City Council is slightly being led by the opposition with 9-8, including Labella and outgoing Association of Barangay Councils President Phillip Zafra.
Last Tuesday, the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan has secured an additional seat at the City Council in the person of Sanggunian Kabataan Federation President Jessica Resch.
With this, Mayor Tomas Osmeña revealed his plans to revive the P18 billion proposed integrated resort on Kawit Island at South Road Properties.
The project was earlier rejected by the City Council which was dominated by the opposition.
“I want to revive it as quickly as possible but I don’t think we have the numbers yet because first of all, she (Resch) cannot hold office until June 30. This is so important. Why are they sacrificing the future of Cebu for their own political ends?” the mayor said.
Osmeña, however, said he cannot assure that the proponent of the integrated resort is willing to wait until the project will be approved in the legislative body.
City Councilor Eugenio Gabuya, Jr. said he will resubmit the resolution authorizing Osmeña to sign the joint venture agreement with Universal Hotel and Resorts Inc. once the BOPK gets the majority in the City Council. — MBG (FREEMAN)