CCWI seeks suspension of SP officials over transparency

By Paulo DS Papa

The Crimes and Corruption Watch International (CCWI) has filed a complaint-affidavit before the Office of the Ombudsman against Camarines Sur Vice Governor Sal Fortuno Jr. and the majority members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) for their alleged inaction to address transparency and procurement issues within the provincial government.

Earlier, on May 14, 2026, CCWI Chairman Carlo Batalla filed a complaint before the Ombudsman against Governor Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte, Bids and Awards Committee Chairperson Janis Ian Regaspi-Cleofe, and Hernanie Morales, Information, Communications, Archives and Records Management Office (ICARMO) head, alleging accountability for the unavailability of detailed provincial government expenditures that should have been accessible to the public through the provincial government’s official website.

On May 21, 2026, Batalla sent an urgent communication to the SP, urging the provincial council to take appropriate action regarding the matter. He claimed that the governor and other Capitol officials had violated transparency and full disclosure requirements under Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memorandum Circular No. 2010-083, or the Full Disclosure Policy, Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991;

The General Appropriations Act, Department of Budget and Management National Budget Circular No. 542, Republic Act No. 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, and Republic Act No. 12009 or the New Government Procurement Act.

On June 1, 2026, the SP issued a brief collective response consisting of two sentences acknowledging receipt of Batalla’s request. The reply was signed by the vice governor.

On June 15, 2026, Batalla, a former provincial board member, submitted documents to the Ombudsman containing complaints against Fortuno and SP members Warren Señar, Dr. Sofia Charis Palmero, Darius Nopra, Vanessa Señar, Donna Oñate, Atty. Jesha Aina Noble, Regin Oliver Oliva, Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President Justmine San Buenaventura, Philippine Councilors League (PCL) President Eugene Vincent Camacho, and Liga ng mga Barangay President Antonio Serrano in connection with the council’s response.

In a social media post, Batalla said the latest complaint filed by CCWI also seeks the preventive suspension of the respondents.

Meanwhile, SP Committee on Appropriations Chairman Warren Señar criticized Batalla on Tuesday morning, June 16, saying that the latter was acting as though he were a representative of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Señar said Batalla’s request effectively sought to compel the provincial council to pass a resolution directing the Office of the Governor and other Capitol departments to comply with transparency and full disclosure requirements mandated by law.

According to Señar, the governor had already responded to Batalla regarding compliance with the policies, making the proposed resolution unnecessary.

He further argued that Batalla, through CCWI, was seeking an oversight inquiry into the Capitol’s compliance with transparency requirements, which he described as unwarranted given that the provincial government received the Seal of Good Housekeeping awards in 2024 and 2025.