PEOPLE are talking about...
* CATRIONA GRAY, NEW MISS UNIVERSE, in her answer to one of the final questions in the Bangkok beauty pageant Monday (December 17), said she can teach people "to be grateful." We can have an amazing world where negativity could not grow and foster and children will have smile on their faces."
She is the kind of propagandist the Presidential Communication Operations Office (PC00) may need, much different from the Mocha Uson variety. Gratitude and positivism, she said, are what must be taught to the people. Be grateful, be positive.
* "PARKING" OF PORK BARREL FUNDS. Four more mayors from Bicol Region reportedly admitted to House Majority Floor Leader Rogelio Andaya Jr. that a Cabinet official "parked" funds with their LGUs, amounting to P200 million to P300 million. It was not clear what "parking" meant: the funds are assigned in the budget of the now five LGUs for the Cabinet official to pick up or direct their use later on?
No more swap unless...
The latest report was that Cebu City Councilor Erik Espina, who was appointed in place of then suspended councilor James Anthony Cuenco, has resigned. He will hold office only until the end of the year.
The resignation will vacate the seat for Cuenco whom a Court of Appeals last October set aside the administrative order of dismissal against Cuenco. Espina gave his word before he took over.
Espina, son of the former Cebu governor and national official Rene, is keeping his word but Erik actually has no choice. The court has ordered the reinstatement of Cuenco, which makes Espina's stay "untenable."
Espina, though, does not have to withdraw his certificate of candidacy, especially that his withdrawal (1) will not allow his party, Partido Barug, to make a substitution, thus leaving one council slot vacant; and (2) will not enable James to take over, as substitution at will was already closed last November 29.
The substitution allowed is only that caused by the death or disqualification of a candidate at or before noon of election day but only when the substitute has the same surname as the that of the person substituted and bears the same surname.
James's dad, former multi-term congressman Tony Cuneco, had filed a COC under Barug. Both father and son bear the same surname and belong to the same party but it is doubtful if substitution can be made other than for the specified causes of death or disqualification.
Real reason or sour grapes?
Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgar Labella leads the Barug slate as candidate for mayor. He said they will respect Erik Espina's decision to quit the 2019 race. Meaning, he probably tried to dissuade him but Erik did not yield.
Erik, a former broadcast journalist in Manila, reportedly said it was not his wish anyway to enter into politics.
Either he was "sour-graping" or he saw the chance to get out of politics before the campaign goes full-blast.
While he is a newbie in local politics, many people see him as an asset to the Barug team and the City Council if elected.
Who was Tery's source?
Police said a disc jockey, a suspect in a rape case, led them to one Nicole Allan Casino who allegedly provide the rape drug. Casino in turn led the cops to former Miss Cebu contestant Teri (with an "I") Marina Silva Colmenares. But who was Colmenares's source? The ladder has not yet reached the higher rung.
"Tery" (with a "y"), detained on suspicion of pushing illegal drugs of non-bailable quantity, might be charged with a lesser offense if she trades off with information and testimony about the bigger fish. The top pushers though usually are not known to those who work on the streets or deal directly with customers. Tery could be left sitting on top, unless they made an exception with her, being a pretty pusher and all.
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