Gov says CamSur split not in sister province’s agenda

NAGA CITY—Camarines Sur Representative Luis R. Villafuerte (third district), said Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos could have been fed false information by his son, Camarines Sur Governor  Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte, on the proposal to divide Camarines Sur.

The younger Villafuerte, however, said it might have been his father who got it wrong. He said his main purpose in going to Ilocos Norte was to pursue a sisterhood agreement between his and Marcos’ province.

“As shown by facts, the proposed province to be called Nueva Camarines meets the prerequisites of provincehood,” said the elder Villafuerte.

The younger Villafuerte, however, said following his father’s logic, “then at least 74 new provinces can be created” which won’t benefit the people.

In a statement, the son said the delegation that traveled to Ilocos Norte was on a development mission since the Camarines Sur Chamber of Commerce has entered into a trade and economic exchange deal with its counterpart, the Ilocos Norte Chamber of Commerce.

“It seems that those who want to divide Camarines Sur are really bent on putting it down,” said the son.

“They question our status as a top tourist destination, they staged a political event on the same day we hosted the Ironman triathlon and now they are trying to put political color in our sister province agreement with Ilocos Norte,” he said.

His father said the division of Camarines Sur actually united erstwhile squabbling political families—the Andayas, Arroyos, Rocos and the Fuentebellas.

Governor Marcos, in a press conference last Saturday after the signing of the sister province agreement between Ilocos Norte and Camarines Sur, remarked that she wasn’t in favor of dividing Camarines Sur.

The younger Villafuerte said the real motive for the division of the province was to keep the principal proponent, Deputy Speaker Arnulfo Fuentebella, in power. Fuentebella is on his last term as congressman.

The proposed new province includes his and several other districts.

“He (Fuentebella) should put in writing that he or any member of his family will not maneuver to govern and take control of the new province if it is created,” said Governor Villafuerte.

According to Representative Villafuerte, Governor Marcos might have been referring to Ilocos when she said there’s no more room for a new province in the country.

“Governor Imee Marcos is a good administrator but I suspect that Governor LRay must have provided her with grossly misleading information,” said Representative Villafuerte.

The office of Deputy Speaker for Luzon Arnulfo Fuentebella requested Representative Villafuerte to answer in lieu of Fuentebella because the deputy speaker was presiding over a House session when contacted by the Inquirer. Jonas Cabiles Soltes, Inquirer Southern Luzon