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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider Catanduanes governor declared persona non grata for refusing to implement cash assistance ordinance

Catanduanes governor declared persona non grata for refusing to implement cash assistance ordinance

Published Jan 13, 2026 01:20 pm
AZANZA (FB)
AZANZA (FB)
LEGAZPI CITY, Albay - The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Catanduanes has declared Gov. Patrick Alain Azanza persona non grata during their regular session Monday for his alleged defiance of a veto-overridden ordinance and public attacks against the legislative body.
The declaration was manifested in resolution, approved in an 8-1 vote, sponsored by Board Members Jose Romeo Francisco, Edwin Tanael, and Santos Zafe.
It stemmed from the governor’s reported refusal to implement an ordinance providing Quick Response Fund (QRF) cash assistance to constituents affected by calamities and emergencies, despite the board overriding his veto.
The resolution described Azanza’s actions as a “willful defiance of law, gross disrespect to a co-equal branch of local government, grave abuse of authority, and conduct unbecoming of a provincial governor.”
It also condemned his public statements labeling board members as “illegal,” “trapo,” “corrupt,” and “doing nothing,” which the Sangguniang Panlalawigan called defamatory and baseless.
The resolution ordered a state of institutional non-comity, directing the board to withdraw non-mandatory courtesies and limit dealings with the governor’s office to matters required by law until full compliance with the ordinance is demonstrated.
Copies of the resolution will be furnished to national authorities, including the Office of the President, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Office of the Ombudsman, Congress, and the Commission on Audit for appropriate action.
Azanza has yet to formally respond to the Manila Bulletin’s request for comment.
However, in a Facebook post, he stated that he has filed a Petition for Declaratory Relief with the regional trial court challenging the ordinance.
He emphasized that he has exhausted all administrative remedies and followed legal procedures, and asserted that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ignored legal opinions from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
“At this point, let the court decide on the matter,” Azanza wrote, adding that he preferred to resolve the issue through legal channels rather than confrontation.

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Catanduanes Gov. Patrick Azanza
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