Garbin likens Rosal, Lagman as wolves in sheep’s clothing

By Rhaydz Barcia

LEGAZPI CITY --- Mayor Alfredo Garbin likened his godfather unseated Albay governor Noel Rosal and his former political ally suspended governor Edcel Grecon “Grex” Lagman as the wolves in the sheep’s clothing.

This was Garbin's reaction when asked for his comment after Lagman withdrew his candidacy from the gubernatorial race to rally behind the candidacy of Rosal to save Albay from greed.

Lagman who ran for vice governor as running mate of former governor Al Francis Bichara, an ally of Ako Bicol Partylist mayoral candidate then Alfredo Garbin in May 2022 elections but lost to Mayor Geraldine Barrameda-Rosal accused his former political allies of greediness and for using the apparatus of the state and manipulation despite of being a loser in the mayoral race.

Lagman hit the current political turmoil in Albay saying that only the people, not politics should decide who governs the province and opted to quit from the gubernatorial race to save Albay.

But Garbin likened Lagman like a wolf in sheep clothing whose program is purely lip service. Garbin sarcastically stated that saving Albay is being done by the Ako Bicol to bring programs and projects that would benefit not only the Albayanos but the entire Bicolanos.

“Saving Albay from those medical needs, which did not exist before, is now being done by Ako Bicol because we have a Cong. Zaldy Co that brings projects here that will benefit not only the Albayanos but the whole Bicolanos but the entire Bicol Region,” he said.

“Saving Albay from brownouts, he did the same, which used to be just lip service. In Fact, the suspended governor because of jueteng payola does not even lift a finger to address the power problem here in Albay. But who solves it, us, Cong Zaldy, Ako Bicol partylist there in the problem of Aleco by putting in rehabilitation of funds,” he added.

As to Rosal, Garbin said that for the past 20 years, he did not address the water problem in Legazpi. “The other one said save Albay. But for the past 20 years he did not address the water problem in Legazpi City. Who is saving the problem of Legazpi on the problem of water. It’s the Ako Bicol partylist Zaldy Co. And under my term as 7-month mayor of Legazpi City, I will see to it that the programs and projects for this project utilities will at least start and complete,” he said.

According to Garbin, the duo’s battle cry to save Albay are all just a plain lip service. “There is nothing. All are just plain lip service,” he said.

He even quoted a verse in the bible “When I opened my bible today, it showed to me, I don't know why. It says Matthew 7, verse 15 to 20. It says, be careful of those fallen prophets who come with sheep clothing but in the ravenous wolves. Meaning (they are wolves in sheep's clothing.) So, what they are saying is the opposite. When you will determine them by their fruits according to the bible,” Garbin said.

“These two saying save Albay. They are the batman and robin of the fake receipts of the quarry. The first one was removed because of the case that was unanimously decided by the Supreme Court, we were exposed to fake receipts at the provincial engineering office. They could not even explain why. But just the same, it was in the position of the provincial engineer and the doctrine of the qualified political agencies says what is the action of your subordinates, it’s your sanction,” he said. Garbin was referring to Rosal.

As to Lagman, Garbin said that he was removed as governor because of the case, emphasizing that the collection in the quarry under Rosal predecessor declined tremendously.

That one who sat down, who was removed as governor because of the case, the collection in the quarry continued to fall. In fact, the acting governor right now, looking for that money, where the money goes? That’s why his task force was totally dissolved. And now the new task force caught a lot of fake receipts. I mean the Save Albay coalition is all lip service,” Garbin said.

Lagman was installed as governor when Rosal was suspended and disqualified by the Comelec. He was later suspended for allegedly receiving payoff from jueteng operators when he was still the vice governor.

Lagman said that he knows how the Rosal couple was going through right now after his former political ally used the apparatus of the state for personal gain, manipulation, and greed.

"Albay must never fall into the hands of those who use the apparatus of the State for personal gain, those who hold power not by the people's choice but through manipulation and greed," Lagman said.

Garbin lost in the electoral battle for mayoral post against Mayor Geraldine Barrameda-Rosal. He filed a recount before the Commission on Elections but lost in the counting. His political ally, Joseph Armogilla, a candidate for councilor in Legazpi, filed a complaint against the then Mayor Noel Rosal, for alleged vote-buying.

Rosal, who is running for Albay governor, was allegedly giving out financial assistance as part of the continuing pandemic aid to the members of the senior citizens and tricycle drivers during the 45-day campaign period for May 2022 polls.