The nomination and designation of the three new temporary Provincial Board Members (PBMs) in place of the suspended PBMS belonging to the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) complied with the guidelines provided by law.
This was stressed last week by NPC Catanduanes Provincial Chairperson and Virac Vice Mayor Lemuel P. Surtida in an official statement following Malacañang’s designation of former ex-officio PBM Joselito T. Alberto, former Panganiban Councilor Ricardo A. Peña, and former Caramoran Vice Mayor Ronald T. Idanan as acting PBMs.
He said that pursuant to Section 45(b) of the Local Government Code of 1991, as implemented under Administrative Order No. 15 and DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2019-21, the temporary vacancies in the Sanggunian shall be filled up by nominees coming from the political party of the Sanggunian member who caused the vacancy.
“This is a manifestation of true democracy – to protect the mandate and party chosen by the people in the last elections,” Surtida underscored. “In complying with the process mandated by law, we do not have any other objective but to ensure that there will be no let-up in the delivery of government services to each Catandunganon.”
Based on the documents submitted by to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) following the Ombudman’s six-month suspension of Vice Governor Robert A. Fernandez and 11 PBMs including NPC’s Giovanni Balmadrid, Arnel Turado and Lorenzo Templonuevo Jr., the NPC provincial chairman sent a letter to National President John Michael Duavit on May 29, 2026 nominating Alberto, Peña and Idanan as temporary replacements.
Attached to the letter intended to initiate the formal designation process were certifications that the suspended PBMs as well as the nominees are distinguished members of good standing of the NPC in the West and East Districts of Catanduanes duly signed by NPC Chairman Vicente Sotto III.
A subsequent letter dated June 2, 2026 was also sent by Surtida to President Ferdinand Marcor Jr., through DILG Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla, on the designation of the three Bonafide NPC members as temporary PBMs.
In that letter, the Virac vice mayor stated that he was aware that separate recommendations to fill the temporary vacancies had been submitted to Malacanang by Governor Patrick Alain T. Azanza.
The governor, in a letter dated May 29, 2026, had recommended his own nominees for the five suspended PBMs belong to Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), the seat vacated by PBM and now Acting Vice Governor Fred Benedict Gianan, and the three NPC PBMs.
Azanza’s Lakas-CMD nominees listed in the letter were: former PBM Joseph Al-Randie Wong for PBM Edwin Tanael, abaca farmer-vlogger Adrian B. Torcelino for PBM Josevan Balidoy, Gigmoto councilor’s spouse Virginia D. Sanchez for PBM Dean Roberto Vergara, former CatSU vice president Aida A. Dianela for PBM Santos Zafe, and former Caramoran mayoral bet Joy Z. Tamayo for PBM Fred Benedict Gianan.
On the other hand, his NPC nominees were: former Virac vice mayor Arlynn H. Arcilla for PBM Giovanni Balmadrid, former Baras councilor Jesus B. Balunsay for PBM Arnel Turado, and former Viga barangay official Rodel Templonuevo.
In his letter to Pres. Marcos, Surtida manifested that the individuals named in the governor’s communication did not undergo the official party selection process, “effectively bypassing the undersigned in his capacity as the Provincial Chairperson of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.”
He underscored the wisdom of Section IV-C, Paragraph 1.3 of DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2019-21, which states that the nomination of a temporary replacement by the political party has the objective of maintaining the political party representation as willed by the people in the last election.
“The circular further emphasizes that in an electoral democracy, conscientious people choose candidates not only for their personal attributes but also because of the ideologies of their political party affiliations,” he pointed out.