SP CamSur awaits Naval

By Mark A. Gomez

The position of a full-fledged provincial secretary of Camarines Sur faces the prospect to remain vacant until mid May, 2023, as the Sannguniang Panlalawigan of Camarines Sur still awaits the former 3rd District board member Angel G. Naval to fill in the spot.

According to reliable information the Sannguniang Panlalawigan of Camarines Sur is waiting for the expiration of Angel G. Naval’s prohibition to land in any appointive government positions, which is one year counted from May 9, 2022.

Naval who failed to win in mayoralty race in Caramoan town during the 2022 election, could not occupy any appointive government position for one year beginning from May 9, 2022 as the law prohibits a losing candidate to hold any appointive government position within one year from defeat.

Prior to the May 9, 2022 elections, the COMELEC 2nd Division held Naval disqualified to run as town mayor based on residential issue. The poll body ruled that Naval has not shown any permanence in his domicile but more importantly that he could not be a resident of Caramoan town for more than 9 years considering that he has served as board member for three consecutive terms from 2004 to 2010 in the 2nd district (old) and 2010 to 2013 in the 3rd district (present).

It will also be recalled that the COMELEC cites that Naval had been a “political vagabond” within Camarines Sur, all for the purpose of situating himself to run for public posts most exigent, “given the circumstances”.

Naval pursued his most recent mayoralty bid considering that the COMELC resolution had not yet become final and executory.

Meantime that the one year ban over Naval’s assumption as a regular SP Secretary has not yet expired, the functions of SP secretary are being performed by an officer in charge, according to a reliable informant.