SC affirms Comelec disqualification of ex-Albay gov Noel Rosal, wife

The Supreme Court en banc on Tuesday affirmed the disqualification of former Albay governor Noel Rosal and two other local officials, including his wife ex-Legazpi City mayor Carmen Rosal, in the national and local polls last May 2022.

Also disqualified was Legazpi City councilor Jose Alfonso Barizo.

The SC noted that their disqualification was for violation of the Omnibus Election Code "in relation with the disbursement and release of government funds during the prohibited period before a regular election."

Rosal won as Albay governor in the 2022 elections but was later on disqualified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for supposedly violating the election spending ban.

He was also barred from holding any public office by the Office of the Ombudsman due to illegal reassignment of personnel.

Meanwhile, his wife Carmen was also disqualified by the poll body after "giving money to influence, induce, or corrupt voters."

This stemmed from a two-day Tricycle Driver's Cash Assistance Payout, wherein she was credited for and was tagged as "Mayor Gie Rosal" in a social media post even if she was not an incumbent mayor at the time. — VDV, GMA Integrated News