Friday, January 05, 2007 Guardo raps Cuenco for ‘using public funds’ for polls
THE fight for Cebu City’s south district congressional seat has started even before the two contenders could file their certificates of candidacy.
Incumbent Rep. Antonio Cuenco has accused sports patron Jonathan Guardo of vote-buying and premature campaigning by sponsoring disco events during fiestas and sports activities.
Guardo lashed back by threatening to haul Cuenco to the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas for distributing barangay tanod uniforms marked “Cuenco District” instead of south district.
He said Cuenco used public funds for his own form of early electioneering.
The light blue polo uniform has a “Cuenco District” patch above the right breast pocket and a patch bearing the tanod’s name on the other side.
“He’s using government funds to promote himself. Has the Cebu City second district’s name changed? Is it no longer south district, is it named Cuenco District already?” Guardo asked.
He said that Cuenco also distributed shirts with the same markings to other barangay employees like social and day care workers.
“We don’t know yet whether what he is doing is illegal or not. But definitely, what he is doing is immoral,” Guardo said.
He defended himself by saying that ever since, he has sponsored sports events and community activities. He was appointed Cebu City Sports Commission chairman because of his involvement in “grassroots sports,” added Guardo.
That was before a well-publicized falling out with Mayor Tomas Osmeña, whom critics accused of lambasting Guardo for his decision to run against Cuenco, an Osmeña ally.
But Cuenco, in a separate interview, said the “Cuenco District” patch is “part of the gimmick of a politician” and has long been used by his counterpart, north district Rep. Raul del Mar.
“The tanods have been asking for the uniforms for a long time. They really needed that. His complaint is puerile,” Cuenco said.
His objection is not so much on Guardo sponsoring activities, but on the latter’s going around the barangays looking for “paymasters” who will distribute his money for the people’s votes, he added.
Cuenco alleged that Guardo bragged he had P50 million, and later P150 million, for the elections.
“I have this little advice for him. Please show your credentials to the people, not your money. I think that is what you have to do. Ipakita ang imong katakos,” he said.
Guardo, however, denied bragging about his money, saying that was “just the picture his detractors wanted to paint” of him. (RHM)
