29/05/2026
OMB preventively suspends Catanduanes Vice Gov and 11 Sangguniang Panlalawigan members
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has ordered the suspension of Catanduanes Vice Governor Robert Fernandez and 11 Sangguniang Panlalawigan members effective immediately.
In an order dated May 22, the Ombudsman found sufficient grounds to preventively suspend Fernandez and the 11 SP members without pay for six months.
The suspension stemmed from a complaint filed by Catanduanes Governor Patrick Alain Azanza over alleged irregularities in the proper utilization and allocation P30.5M of the provinceโs QRF or Quick Response Fund following the onslaught of Super Typhoon โUwanโ in November 2025.
The respondents, then acting as the Sangguniang Panlalawigan or SP, revised the PDRRMC or the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councilโs proposed utilization and allocation of the QRF and moved to use over P26M for cash assistance instead of goods.
Governor Azanza vetoed the SP ordinance citing the DBM-DILG-NDRRMC Joint Circular 2013-1 which does not include cash assistance among the allowable immediate response activities.
Azanza further stressed that the respondentsโ acts delayed the utilization of the QRF and further impeded the provincial government from addressing the urgent needs of the affected more than 39,000 families.
Cited also in Azanzaโs complaint are other collective acts of the respondents including the deferment of the request for authority to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development or DHSUD for provisions of construction materials for Super Typhoon Uwan victims.
The respondents allegedly also caused delays in the enactment of budget appropriations for fiscal year 2026 and also issued a resolution in January declaring Governor Azanza as Persona Non Grata in the province.
Suspended with Fernandez are Sangguniang Panlalawigan members Josevan Balidoy, Giovanni Balmadrid, Jose Romeo Francisco, Alvin Rodriguez, Edwin Tanael, Lorenzo Templonuevo Jr., Arnel Turado, Dean Roberto Vergara, Tito Villamor, Santos Zafe and Rafael Zuniega.
The order stated โthat there is strong evidence showing their guiltโ for the charges of grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
The suspension order was issued as โtheir continued stay in office may prejudice the investigation of the case filed against them.โ
Moreover, the order stated that the suspension was warranted as โthere is a need to preserve the documents and evidence pertaining to this case which they may have control and custodyโ and to prevent โfurther commission of malfeasance and/or misfeasance in office.โ
Under the terms of the order, respondents are placed under suspension without pay for a period not to exceed six months, pending the final termination of the administrative adjudication of their case. #
