DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo slammed Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon for the latter’s remarks, published in a regional paper, which hit the opposition against the proposed creation of a One-Negros Island Region.
Degamo, last January 6, wrote President Benigno Simeon Aquino III airing his indignation over Marañon’s statement that allegedly belittled the opposition, and seeking the president’s “assurance and protection” for the Negros Oriental people’s “sacred right of choice.”
Degamo was referring to the statements of Marañon, who was quoted in the Bacolod-based paper as saying, “In the end, it will be the president, not Degamo who will decide whether the island region should be created or not.”
The article further said: “Marañon has asked the president to create the Negros Island Region, composed of the Negros Occidental and Oriental provinces, through the issuance of an executive order.”
This apparently got the ire of Degamo, who has consistently maintained his stand on the proposed region, saying the people must be consulted first, and repeatedly bucked the sought after executive order by the president contending that a feasibility study must be done first.
“Having the best interest for my people in mind, I have endeavored to keep an open mind on this proposal for an administrative change, requesting no more than a credible feasibility study by independent entities considering all important aspects, if only to convince my people in choosing the right path in this fundamental change which will definitely affect the future of our province,” Degamo’s letter to Aquino read.
Degamo also pointed out in his letter that Marañon’s “sweeping and presumptuous statement is no less a grave insult to my office as governor and as a representative of my people. It is a clear assault on our sacred constitutional right of choice,” and “runs counter to the president’s daang matuwid campaign.
In the letter, Degamo further demanded for a public apology from Marañon in the same newspapers that published the latter’s statement, which was a “blatant and utter disregard of my people’s sentiments,” to prevent “animosity and keep mutual respect between his (Marañon) office and mine.” (FREEMAN)