Disqualified Albay governor, Legaspi mayor get support from bishop, rallyists
MANILA, Philippines – Albay Gov. Noel Rosal and his wife, Legazpi City Mayor Geraldine Rosal — recently disqualified by the Commission on Elections — found allies in the bishop of the Diocese of Legaspi City and some constituents who are calling on the poll body to reconsider its decision.
Bishop Joel Baylon of the Diocese of Legazpi City and thousands of supporters recently staged a prayer rally at Peñaranda Park to demonstrate their support to the Rosals and oppose the Comelec’s decision to disqualify the couple for violating a ban on government spending before the May 2022 polls.
Baylon and over 25,000 rallyists urged the poll body to respect the “will of the people” and offered prayers for the Rosal couple.
“Let the will of the people prevail, and let’s go to work for a progressive Albay. The election is done here already. The people have already chosen their leaders so let’s stop politicking,” Baylon said.
“The Church has joined the people today to support the leaders they chose,” he added.
The rallyists from various barangays and municipalities in Albay paraded banners and tarpaulins with messages of support as they called for divine intervention in reversing the elected governor and his mayor wife’s disqualification.
“The entire community has expressed their support to the leaders they know who will serve them. Our governor here is doing his best to find a solution to fight illegal quarrying, put up hospitals in some areas and make projects for the people,” Baylon continued.
The Comelec disqualified Rosal from the provincial electoral race last month for violating the 45-day ban on the release of public funds by government agencies for social welfare projects, particularly the approval of cash assistance to tricycle drivers in April.
For her part, Mayor Geraldine Rosal was also disqualified for the same offense last October 4, just two weeks after the poll body’s First Division disqualified her husband.
Baylon added though that they would always respect the law, but said he is praying that “true justice will prevail” for the benefit of the 469,481 Filipinos who voted for the Rosals.
“My message to our political leaders is we will always respect the law, the law which stands for the truth, that respect and love the dignity of one another. There are many things that can divide us or prompt us to turn against one another. But the loser in the end will be the people of this land,” he added.
‘Dasal para kay Rosal’
The rallyists reiterated their strong stand against the Rosals’ disqualification.
“We are praying for divine intervention from God to reverse that ruling. We cannot allow to lose the people’s governor who really serves us,” Tabaco City First District Councilor Oden Berces said. “He is the real governor of Albay.”
“He is the only governor who visits the tiny islands of Tabaco, according to the people there, and he’s very approachable. He also reorganized the hospital here to help the people,” he added.
Rose Ajero, a 70-year-old retired teacher who joined the rally, said they love the governor because of his environmental policy limiting quarrying activities around Albay in an effort to prevent a storm catastrophe in 2006.
“The people of Albay don’t want a repeat of that tragic calamity in 2006 when Typhoon Reming hit the town of Padang where many have perished because of illegal quarrying,” Ajero said. “We know the bad effects of illegal quarrying.”
“We know who are behind this issue and we’re asking them to just take care of their issues, the scandals they’ve been, because our governor and mayor here are working hard as true public servants,” she added.
The supporters claimed that the issues hurled against the Rosals are baseless and political in nature .
According to Rosals' social media accounts, the first-time governor and the mayor will continue to exercise their duties until the court orders them to vacate their positions with finality.
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