Metro Manila, Philippines – The Ombudsman has ordered the suspension of Catanduanes Vice Governor Robert Fernandez and 11 other Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) officials for alleged anomalies in allocating ₱30.5 million in typhoon response funds.
In a statement on Friday, May 29, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla ordered the preventive suspension of Fernandez and the 11 SP members without pay for six months, “effective immediately.”
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 “that there is strong evidence showing their guilt” for the charges of grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
“Their continued stay in office may prejudice the investigation of the case filed against them,” the order added.
The case stems from a complaint filed by Catanduanes Governor Patrick Alain Azanza over alleged irregularities in the proper use of the province’s Quick Response Fund (QRF) after the onslaught of Super Typhoon “Uwan” in November 2025.
The complaint states that the respondents were then acting as the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and revised the proposed utilization of the QRF and used over ₱26 million from the total amount for cash assistance instead of goods.
Azanza vetoed the SP ordinance citing a 2013 joint circular from the Department of Budget and Management which does not include cash assistance among the allowable immediate response activities.
The complainant further stressed that “the respondents’ 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.”
Azanza’s complaint also accused the respondents of deferring the request for authority to enter into an agreement with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development for provisions of construction materials for the typhoon 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 Azanza as persona non grata in the province.
In November, Super Typhoon Uwan left total damages of ₱5.74 billion in Catanduanes alone. The death toll reached 33.
