Comelec directs DILG to remove Gov. Noel Rosal
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc directed the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to enforce the writ of execution to remove Albay Gov. Noel Rosal from his post and install Vice Gov. Edcel Greco Alexandre Lagman as the new governor.
The Comelec en banc directive was issued to the DILG central office on November 28 mandating the agency to enforce its previous ruling, thus ordering Rosal to vacate his post pending his appeal for a temporary restraining order before the Supreme Court.
On November 24, petitioner Joseph San Juan Armogila, a tricycle driver who ran for city councilor under the ticket of former Ako Bicol party-list filed an urgent implementation of a writ of execution.
Analee Sister, a supporter of the governor, expressed dismay over the decision of the Comelec to disqualify Rosal and his wife, Legazpi City Mayor Geraldine Rosal, for violating Section 261(v) of the Omnibus Election Code. The law prohibits the release and disbursement or expenditure of public funds during the 45-day election ban.
“Albayanos are craving for justice, for change. As a former village councilor, this is the only opportunity for us to have a genuine and great leader who works for the grassroots and prioritizes the basic services of the people,” said Sister, a resident of Binitayan village in Malilipot.
Sister is one of the supporters of Rosal who thronged the Albay provincial capitol on Friday to show her support to the governor.
“If Gov. Noel Rosal was disqualified for giving aid to the senior citizens and tricycle drivers during the election time, his action is justifiable because it’s pandemic time. And so, all politicians and party-lists used government funds and programs during election time. But the governor was just continuing his old program for the people affected by the pandemic,” she said.
Dina Panganiban, a supporter of the Rosal couple from Sogod village in Bacacay, said that she has never lost hope that the governor will get a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court.
“I’m praying that the Supreme Court will grant a temporary restraining order and look into the welfare of the Albayanos, rather than the vested interests of politicians working together to topple Governor Rosal,” she said.
“We have a workaholic governor who is not corrupt and works for the people. We want a total change in Albay. We want a new leader like him, rather than those big politicians who work together trying to kick him from his post. In just 100 days, the hospital services and facilities have already improved. Hopefully, the Supreme Court will grant a TRO so that Governor Rosal will continue his new leadership and programs in Albay,” Panganiban said.
The Comelec en banc issued a certificate of finality declaring its resolution on Nov. 18, 2022 final and executory.
The Comelec said that the post of vice governor vacated by Lagman will be assumed by the highest ranking member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.