Camarines Sur split proponents hit for ‘putting province down’

NAGA CITY—Gov. Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte Jr. tagged as a “shameless political stunt” last weekend’s show of force of Camarines Sur’s two political patriarchs—his father Rep. Luis R. Villafuerte Sr. and Deputy Speaker Arnulfo Fuentebella—in support of dividing the province into two.

“While we were working hard to ensure the success of the third edition of the Ironman Philippines triathlon, which is a major international sporting event that brings honor to and benefits the people of Camarines Sur, those pushing to split the province are busy engaging in divisive politics,” Villafuerte Jr. said in an e-mailed reaction to the story that came out in the Inquirer Tuesday.

The governor was strongly reacting to the gathering held in Calabanga town on July 13 by those pushing to create a new province, to be called Nueva Camarines and composed of Camarines Sur’s fourth and fifth districts.

Irony

The proposal, embodied under House Bill 4820 approved by the House of Representatives on Aug. 5, is spearheaded by Fuentebella (4th district) and supported by Villafuerte Sr. (3rd district), and Representatives Rolando Andaya Jr. (1st district) and Diosdado Arroyo (2nd district).

Only Rep. Salvio Fortuno (5th district) has been opposing the division, along with Villafuerte Jr.

“One cannot help but note the irony of it all. On the same day that we were promoting the province, they were putting it down,” Villafuerte Jr. added.

Proponents of the division, however, said their motive for pushing for a new province is borne by a desire to bring progress to the people of Camarines Sur.

According to Fuentebella, in an interview with a radio station in Manila, while the province has been marketed well locally and abroad, the fact remains that its people remain among the poorest in the country.

The younger Villafuerte characterized the event as obviously stage-managed by politicians and attended by their partisans.

“It does not in anyway show that they have the support of the majority of the people of Camarines Sur, what it proves is how shallow and callous they are,” the governor said.

‘Smoke and mirrors’

Villafuerte Jr. also said those pushing for a new province by carving it out of the existing one were resorting to a “smoke and mirrors” strategy—by dangling what he branded as “pie-in-the sky” promises while claiming alleged irregularities and acts of mismanagement by his administration.

“They deliberately obfuscate the real and substantive issues,” said the governor.

In Calabanga, proponents of the new province said the creation of new offices would be the responsibility of national government.

Villafuerte Sr. had told Inquirer that the creation of the new Camarines would allow basic social services to reach remote areas because it would be smaller and manageable.