Santiago committee report on CamSur stirs controversy

MANILA, Philippines - The move to create a new province out of Camarines Sur stirred a controversy anew yesterday after Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago sent out a committee report ahead of the one being prepared by the Senate committee on local government chaired by Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Sen. Joker Arroyo defended the delay in the bill’s passage, saying the Senate has to do its job in scrutinizing the version of the House of Representatives.

Arroyo, who hails from Camarines Sur, said the creation of the new province to be called Nueva Camarines was a case of gerrymandering, apparently referring to the feud among the Villafuerte clan.  

“This is a case of gerrymandering. Therefore, the Senate has a duty to inquire whether there is gerrymandering (which is) to provide feuding families in the province that the solution is instead of an election, they will resolve in partitioning the province and assign the another sections to families,” he said.

“There is so much intervention now going on. The Senate should be allowed to do our job. If it passes, fine. If it does not, fine. But let us let the Senate do its job,” he added.

Santiago’s report consisted of 242 amendments, affirming moves to divide Camarines Sur into two provinces. 

Santiago issued the report as head of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada cited Senate Rule 11, Section 25 that provides that a committee report by a secondary committee will be referred to the committee on rules if the primary committee has not released its own report.