Legazpi mayor seeks TRO on disqualification case

By Connie Calipay

LEGAZPI CITY --- The camp of Legazpi City Mayor Geraldine Rosal filed a petition for a temporary restraining order (TRO) on her disqualification case before the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday.

The mayor, together with her husband, disqualified Albay governor Noel Rosal, also met with their supporters at the city hall premises in the morning.

Edcel Lagman, elected vice governor, replaced Noel Rosal in December last year while the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ordered that Geraldine Rosal be replaced by Alfredo Garbin Jr., who placed second by only 550 votes.

“Let us wait what will happen. Let us wait if this will be granted by the SC,” Rosal said in an interview.

She assured their supporters that if the truth is on her side, everything will fall into place.

“Tandaan ninyo ito. Hindi tayo titigil sa labang ito. Hindi ako matatakot na ipaglaban ang inyong karapatan. Ako ay inyong ibinoto at ako ay nanalo sa malinis na paraan kaya’t hindi ako papayag na matanggal nang walang sapat na ebidensya laban sa akin (Remember, we will not stop in this fight. I will not be afraid to fight for your right. You voted for me and I won cleanly. So I will not allow myself to be disqualified without sufficient evidence against me)," she said.

HIGH HOPES. Legazpi City Mayor Geraldine Rosal (2nd from left), who was disqualified for an election offense, thanks her supporters who gathered at the city hall on Monday (May 8, 2023). Rosal filed a temporary restraining order petition before the Supreme Court. (Photo courtesy of Elmer Añonuevo)

While waiting for the SC decision, she asked local government employees to continue serving the public.

“Business as usual. Open po ang ating city hall (Our city hall is open)," she said.

On May 4, the Comelec en banc issued a certificate of finality in the petition for disqualification against Geraldine Rosal.

The 17-page resolution affirmed the ruling of the Comelec Second Division on Oct. 4, 2022, disqualifying the mayor for violating the Omnibus Election Code, which prohibits the release, disbursement, or expenditure of public funds 45 days before election day.

The disqualification case was filed by losing local council candidate Joseph San Juan Armogila over her participation in the two-day Tricycle Driver's Cash Assistance Payout on March 31, 2022. (PNA)