MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., chairman of the Senate committee on local government, believes that the Senate will not be able to tackle the bill dividing Camarines Sur (CamSur) before yearend.
“It’s moot,” Marcos said when asked if he still sees the approval of the measure before yearend.
The bill has been in the Senate’s order of business but it was not tackled since the senators are having marathon deliberations on the sin tax reform measure.
According to Marcos, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes had announced that the poll body would not extend the registration to accommodate candidates for a new province if the CamSur bill is approved.
Neither is the Comelec ready to conduct special elections, he added.
The Senate has not acted on the CamSur bill since Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV criticized Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile for allegedly lobbying for the passage of the measure which seeks to divide CamSur and create the new province of Nueva Camarines.
Among those who have pressed the senators for the immediate approval of the bill are Reps. Luis Villafuerte and Arnulfo Fuentebella.