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Rosal couple file candidacy together

By Rhaydz B. Barcia


ARM in arm and backed by supporters from all walks of life across Albay province, former governor Noel Rosal and his wife, Mayor Geraldine Rosal, filed their certificates of candidacy on Wednesday for the gubernatorial and mayoral posts in Legazpi.


Clad in blue shirts, the Rosal couple attended a mass at St. Gregory the Great, Albay Cathedral, joined by over a thousand supporters before heading to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) provincial office.


The mass was attended by local leaders, former political allies of outgoing 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda and ex-governor Al Francis Bichara, as well as religious groups, nuns, and candidates running for mayoral and board member positions across the province.


The Rosals were treated like rock stars as they proceeded to the Comelec office, in stark contrast to Congressman Joey Salceda, who quietly filed his certificate of candidacy on the first day through his legal counsel, Rodolfo "Jong" Bonafe.


Noel Rosal, a returning gubernatorial candidate, told The Manila Times that he decided to run again due to the strong clamor from Albayanos.


“I’m quite emotional because people from across the province came to Legazpi to show their support and join me in filing my candidacy. I’m answering their pleas despite the political challenges we face,” he said in an interview while heading to the Comelec provincial office.


“I’m offering myself as an alternative candidate for governor of Albay, even though I’m not as well-funded as my opponents,” Rosal added.


Rosal filed his certificate of candidacy under the PDP-Laban party, alongside his political ally Carlos Loria, who is running for the 2nd District congressional seat under the same banner.


After filing his COC, Noel Rosal accompanied his wife, suspended Mayor Geraldine Rosal, to the Comelec office in Legazpi, where she also filed her certificate of candidacy, alongside her running mate, vice mayoral candidate Al Barizo.


Mayor Geraldine Rosal said that, like her husband, she is heeding the call of Legazpeños to run again despite the political hurdles.


Legazpi City Mayor Geraldine Barrameda Rosal stepped down from her post on September 12, following an execution order from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) provincial office.


She relinquished her position to Vice Mayor Bobby Cristobal after the Office of the Ombudsman ordered her one-year suspension, which the DILG enforced. The Ombudsman had found her guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. Mayor Rosal has since petitioned the Supreme Court for an injunction, but the court has not yet issued a ruling.


The Ombudsman also ordered the dismissal of former governor Noel Rosal and barred him from holding public office permanently due to grave misconduct and oppression after reassigning three department heads to lower-ranked positions without justification.


On September 4, Lawyer Francis Bernard Palacio, graft investigation and prosecution officer of the Office of the Ombudsman, delivered the Ombudsman’s decision to the Rosals’ residence.


In response to rumors that he was ineligible to file a certificate of candidacy for the May 2025 elections, Noel Rosal clarified the situation on his Facebook page. He urged Albayanos to read the Supreme Court ruling in G.R. No. 257342, April 25, 2023, Ortiga v. House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET), to avoid being misled.


Rosal emphasized that while the Ombudsman’s ruling enforces the immediate execution of the main penalties, such as suspension or removal from office, the additional penalties, including perpetual disqualification from public office, do not take effect immediately and may take time to enforce.


“The immediately executory nature of the [Ombudsman’s] decisions in administrative cases pertains only to the principal penalties like suspension or removal from office, not to the accessory penalties like disqualification or forfeiture of retirement benefits,” Rosal explained.


The Rosals have a pending appeal before the Supreme Court, which has yet to rule on their case after more than two years.


OUSTED Albay governor Noel Rosal and suspended Legazpi City Mayor Geraldine Rosal filed their certificates of candidacy for the province’s top post and mayor of Legazpi, respectively. (Rhaydz B. Barcia)

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