Espina resigns, quits 2019 race
TO PAVE WAY FOR CUENCO’S RETURN
Cebu City Councilor Erik Miguel Espina is stepping down from his post if only to show that he is not preventing the reinstatement of Councilor James Anthony Cuenco.
“Ako, importante pud nako ang trust. Kon dudahan man gani ko nga naay gibuhat para dili makabalik si Cuenco, dili ko ana. Mo-resign ko para to show nga wala koy problema gyud,” Espina told reporters.
President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Espina to the council when the Ombudsman dismissed Cuenco from service over the alleged misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocation of his father,
former Cebu City South District Rep. Antonio Cuenco, amounting to P3.3 million.
But the Court of Appeals reversed the Ombudsman ruling and cleared Cuenco of any liability.
Without naming the individual, Espina told The FREEMAN that someone had asked him to resign to pave way for Cuenco’s reinstatement.
“I was asked to resign so I think the subsequent decision for me not to seek the election is my word already. I already have no more obligation to run because in the first place, I’m willing to give my post back to James. If that’s not enough, then, I will resign,” Espina said.
“Although he’s not running anymore, but he wants to come back for the five months but this time I’m also saying nga di nasad ko ganahan modagan. They should respect my decision for that,” he added.
When he assumed his post in July this year, Espina said he would vacate his seat in the council should the court grant Cuenco’s appeal.
He said there is no conflict within the Partido Barug despite his decision.
In a statement, Espina announced his “irrevocable resignation” as city councilor effective January 1, 2019. He said he will no longer wait for the DILG to order Cuenco’s reinstatement.
“The righteous, in no uncertain terms, must bravely take such poignant and prescient step so that there can be no misunderstanding and mistrust, particularly when good name is assailed,” the statement reads.
“With my voluntary resignation, my moral obligation to be a candidate for Barug PDP-Laban is extinguished. I am officially withdrawing from the ticket. There are other more qualified names that can easily replace me,” it reads further.
Cuenco was unavailable for comment as of yesterday. Espina thanked Duterte, former Special Assistant Bong Go, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino, and former mayor Michael Rama for his appointment.
Espina said he has no plans of returning to politics, saying he does not need an honorific title to serve.
Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella said he will accept Espina’s resignation because there was a gentlemen’s agreement between him and Cuenco before.
He, however, will try to convince Espina to push through with his candidacy for 2019.
“In so far as the withdrawal (of his candidacy), that I do not know yet. I have to see and talk to him -- what triggered and what prompted such pronouncement. But it was not official yet,” Labella said.
Both Labella and Rama believe Espina is a formidable candidate.
Rama said he will ask Labella, the group’s mayoralty bet, to call for a meeting and discuss options.
Election Officer Marchel Sarno said a candidate may be replaced depending on the grounds.
“If ang ground sa substitution is disqualification, death, pwede ma-substitute anytime until noon of election day with the qualification nga members sa partido and pareha og apelyedo. If ang ground is withdrawal, allowed siya until November 29 ra,” Sarno told The FREEMAN.