CEBU CITY -- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered the reinstatement of James Cuenco as Cebu City councilor.
Cuenco said his father, former Congressman Antonio Cuenco, who is presently in Manila, relayed to him the good news but he has yet to receive a copy of the reinstatement order.
He said he expects to receive the order from the DILG central office in Manila anytime soon and will reoccupy his seat at the City Council on January 1, 2019.
“The DILG said the order will be released anytime today (Wednesday). So, maybe tomorrow or the next day, I will have the order already. But I will reassume my post after the holidays,” Cuenco said.
Last year, the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas dismissed Cuenco from government service for grave misconduct and serious dishonesty.
The Ombudsman’s dismissal order against Cuenco stemmed from his alleged involvement in the anomalous implementation of the PHP3.4-million medicine assistance program using his congressman-father’s pork barrel funds.
However, the Court of Appeals (CA) reversed the Ombudsman’s dismissal order. In a decision promulgated last October 18, CA 3rd Division Associate Justice Jhosep Lopez cleared Cuenco for lack of evidence. (PNA)
