COMELEC junks Albay Governor Rosal's petition to reverse disqualification

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) en banc on Friday upheld the disqualification of Albay Governor Noel Rosal.

The COMELEC First Division junked the Motion for Reconsideration filed by Rosal to keep his post as Albay governor due to having “no cogent reason to reverse the findings of the Commission.”

“The instant Motion for Reconsideration neither contains any new matters or issues, nor was it able to establish that the Assailed Resolution was based on insufficient evidence, or that the same is contrary to law,” the ruling cited.

“WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, the Commission (En Banc) hereby DENIES the Motion for Reconsideration dated September 20, 2022, filed by Respondent NOEL E. ROSAL and AFFIRMS the Resolution of the Commission (First Division) promulgated on September 19, 2022,” it added.

On September 20, 2022, the Comelec First Division granted the petition to disqualify Rosal for violating Section 261 (v) of the Omnibus Election Code or the prohibition against the release, disbursement, or expenditure of public funds.

According to the decision, Rosal, an incumbent official during the 2022 national and local elections, had given cash assistance to tricycle drivers and senior citizens sometime in April 2022.

The petition was filed in April 2022 by defeated Legazpi City council candidate Joseph Armogila. — DVM, GMA Integrated News