Cuenco back in post in 2019

Cebu City Councilor James Anthony Cuenco will be back in office as soon as the year starts after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) head office ordered his reinstatement.

“The latest I heard from Manila is that the order will be released anytime today (Wednesday),” Cuenco told reporters.

Despite the release of the reinstatement order, Cuenco said he will assume his post only by Jan. 1.

The Office of the Ombudsman dismissed Cuenco from public service last year for grave misconduct and serious dishonesty for allegedly using falsified documents in disbursing public funds.

The Court of Appeals (CA), though, overturned his dismissal last October.

When the anti-graft office dismissed Cuenco, Councilor Erik Espina, who was recommended by then Barug Team Rama, now Partido Barug through the United Nationalist Alliance, was appointed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to replace him.

Espina tendered his irrevocable resignation already and will only serve until Jan. 1.

During the same interview, Espina said he has yet to decide if he will pursue his candidacy as city councilor for the south.

“I’m still praying for it. Anyway, it’s still Christmas season, so there don’t have to be major decisions that should be made,” he said.

When he announced his resignation, Espina also earlier said he will no longer push through with his candidacy.

But his colleagues in Partido Barug, particularly Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella and former mayor Michael Rama, said they will persuade Espina to continue his candidacy because he is an ideal candidate.

“I’m listening to everybody. I’m part of the group. In the world of possibilities, anything is possible,” he said.

Both Cuenco and Espina clarified that there is no conflict between them following the development.