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Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Mayor 'expels' congressman from political party
CEBU CITY -- Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña virtually kicked out Representative Antonio Cuenco for "doing the right thing for the wrong reason" in reviving moves to split Guadalupe into two barangays.
"As far as I am concerned, he is not part of the BO-PK (anymore)," Osmeña told reporters on Monday.
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He said that while Cuenco's intention is good, the motive behind his action is suspect, as he is just trying to get back at Guadalupe Barangay Captain Eugenio Faelnar.
Cuenco and Faelnar, who are former allies, have engaged in a word war recently, sparked by the latter's claim that the former has not been giving projects to the barangays under his district.
While the mayor believes that Banawa-Englis should eventually form a new barangay, he said there should be a seamless transition so there will be no disruption in the delivery of basis services.
"He (Cuenco) just wants to get even...The question is, how do you have a seamless transition? But he doesn't care," Osmeña said.
Challenge
Cuenco said he does not mind being expelled from the party, saying it might even be a "blessing in disguise."
"I have other plans anyway," he told Sun.Star Cebu in a telephone interview.
He, however, denied the mayor's claim that he did not take into consideration the welfare of the residents of the proposed new barangay, particularly on the delivery of basic services.
He said a provision will be included in his proposed bill that would ensure that the division will take place only after an election.
He, however, has backed off from his promise to file the bill to separate Banawa-Englis from Guadalupe this week, saying instead that he will talk first with Vice Mayor Michael Rama and the city councilors.
He challenged the City Government, particularly the City Council, to update, reintroduce and pass a 1997 resolution authorizing the holding of a plebiscite and setting aside a P100,000 fund for such purpose.
Cuenco said that Osmeña actually approved of the resolution after he secured another term of office after defeating then mayor Alvin Garcia.
He said this is an easier and shorter process than going to Congress.
"(But) if, for one reason or another, they will allow politics to stymie the proposal, I will do what is right and what is the will of the people," Cuenco said.
He said he will then proceed with the filing of the bill.
Satellite office
Rama, in a separate interview, said that while he supports the holding of a plebiscite, the barangay should do more in extending services to the area.
He said Guadalupe can set up a barangay satellite office in Banawa-Englis, to be administered by its representative to the barangay council, barangay councilor Henry Cañete, to better serve the residents there.
He said that since the separation issue had been discussed at length already years ago, all it takes is for the voluminous documents at the City Council to be reviewed.
"Ato ipa-check," Rama said.
Politics
Cuenco's stance actually hews to that made by a group of Guadalupe residents calling itself the Banawa Separation Movement.
The movement, he said, started in 1992.
In a press conference last week, Cuenco admitted politics caused him not to push for the separation of Banawa and Englis when his son, then city councilor Ronald Cuenco, formally proposed it in 1997.
The City Council at that time approved City Ordinance 1661 authorizing a plebiscite and setting funds for such purpose.
It is also partly due politics, Cuenco said last Saturday, that he took the cudgel and is serving as advocate for the creation of barangay Banawa-Englis.
Cuenco noted that aside from a City Council resolution, creating a new barangay or dividing an existing barangay could be done through congressional action. (RHM/Sun.Star Cebu)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cebu. (September 16, 2008 issue)
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