ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines?The Naval Forces in Western Mindanao ? one of the largest Navy installations outside Luzon ? is still waiting for its real commander following Friday?s departure of Rear Adm. Alexander Pama.

But while Rear Adm. Feliciano Angue could still not take over following an investigation into his pronouncements against his appointment as commander vice Pama, the Naval Forces in the region would be led by an officer in charge, Brig. Gen. Eugenio Clemen of the Philippine Marines.

Rear Adm. Danilo Cortez, acting flag officer of the Philippine Navy, said Clemen was qualified to assume command temporarily because he was the most senior Navy officer in the region.

The Marines is under the Navy.

He said they were looking forward to the day Angue would finally assume command of the Navy headquarters here.

?There was no order saying otherwise so he should be here. His assumption was held in abeyance pending results of the investigation,? Cortez said.

The military placed Angue under investigation for publicly resenting his appointment as chief of the Naval Forces in Western Mindanao.

He said it was a demotion because he was already commander of the Naval Forces in the National Capital Region.

Cortez said they had expected to complete the data gathering by next week and the Navy hierarchy might be able to come up with a decision on Angue?s case at about the same time.

Tawi-tawi Gov. Sadikul Sahali said they were also looking forward to Angue?s assumption of the Navy command in the region, saying he was among the few officers that locals had come to like.

Angue was previously assigned here before taking the helm of the National Capital Region Navy command.

?He is a good officer,? Sahali said of Angue, who recently denounced alleged rigging of votes in the 2004 elections and was himself accused of the same offense supposedly to favor the late Fernando Poe Jr.