AN OPEN ‘political brawl’ has erupted in Catanduanes, Bicol Region, which pitted Governor Patrick Alain Azanza against the members of the Sangguniang Panglalawigan led by Vice Governor Robert ‘Obet’ Fernandez on how best to help the victims of Super Typhoon ‘Uwan’ that caused devastation in large parts of the country last November.
In a 13-page complaint filed before the Ombudsman last December 9 in his capacity as chair of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDDRMO), Azanza accused Fernandez and the rest of the Sanggunian for grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, offenses that, if upheld, merit immediate preventive suspension, dismissal from the service and perpetual disqualification to hold public office.
Aside from Fernandez, also sued were Board Members Josevan Balidoy, Giovanni Balmadrid, Jose Romeo Francisco, Alvin Rodriguez, Edwin Tanael, Lorenzo Templonuevo, Arnel Turado, Dean Roberto Vergara, Tito Villamor, and Santos Safe.
The ‘Lone Ranger’
A respected academician as former president of the Catanduanes State University, Azanza resigned from the post in October 2024 to prepare for his candidacy as governor, running as an independent.
He narrowly won against Vice Governor Peter ‘Boss Te’ Cua by a margin of just 362 votes. Cua is also being hounded by the issue involving his Filipino citizenship, along with his brother, former governor, Joseph Chua Cua.
However, thru their family’s political machinery, the Cuas, the dominant political dynasty in the province for nearly two decades now, reportedly continue to wield their influence.
At the Sanggunian, Governor Azanza is playing the role of ‘The Lone Ranger.’ Arrayed against him is the group of Vice Governor Fernandez, who is allegedly one of the Cuas’ close political allies.
In violation of the law?
In his complaint. Azanza averred that Fernandez and his group decided to initially set aside P4.25 million as cash assistance to their provincemates from the P30.506 million in Quick Reaction Fund (QRF) approved by the PDRRMC under Resolution 006-2025 on November 10.
The realignment, Azanza argued, is against the law as it violated the position of the Commission on Audit (COA) that the QRF cannot be converted into cash assistance.
The QRF was intended for the purchase of basic needs for the victims such as rice, sardines, noodles, coffee and non-food items like construction materials.
Azanza noted the Sanggunian’s decision also runs against Joint Circular 2013-1 of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) that proscribed the use of cash assistance to calamity victims.
In his pleading, Gov. Azanza noted that Uwan (International Codename: Fung Wong), “totally damaged” 4,655 houses while another 34,348 houses were partially damaged.
He added that despite the urgency of the situation, the Sanggunian only started to act on the resolution on November 20, which is 11 days after Uwan left a trail of despair and devastation.
Azanza averred that instead of following the law and the caution of the COA and a representative from the DILG, the Sanggunian even doubled down on its position by issuing SP Resolution 1094-2025 on November 24.
Instead of the P4.25 million from the QRF to be used as cash assistance, Azanza claimed the body even increased the amount to P26.255 million.
On December 1, which is 22 days since the typhoon, Azanza said the Sanggunian affirmed its position by passing Resolution 1126-2025 and Provincial Ordinance 040-2025.
Azanza said the continuing impasse to the detriment of their constituents left him with no choice but to seek the help of the Ombudsman.