Comelec proclaims ex-Rep. Alfredo Garbin as Legazpi City Mayor

Former Ako Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr., proclaimed as mayor Legazpi City, Albay following the disqualification of Carmen Rosal. Photo courtesy: COMELEC @gmanews pic.twitter.com/rp0bCZyw0p

— sandra aguinaldo (@sandraguinaldo) November 11, 2024

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday proclaimed former Ako Bicol Representative Alfredo Garbin Jr. as mayor of Legazpi City.

This came after the Special City Board of Canvassers (SCBOC) of Legazpi convened to implement the decision ordering the annulment of the proclamation of Carmen Rosal in the 2022 national and local elections, according to the poll body.

“Accordingly… the SCBOC of Legazpi City, Albay proclaimed Alfredo Garbin Jr., with 57,137 votes, as the candidate who obtained the highest number of votes and the duly elected Mayor of Legazpi City,” Comelec said in a statement.

In May, the Comelec En Banc disqualified Rosal as mayoral candidate for “giving money to influence, induce, or corrupt voters,” a violation stated under Section 68(a) of the Omnibus Election Code.

The case stemmed from a Facebook post concerning a two-day Tricycle Driver’s Cash Assistance Payout. The said post thanked Rosal for the activity and tagged her as “Mayor Gie Rosal” even if she was not an incumbent mayor at the time.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court affirmed Rosal’s disqualification in October. 

It also affirmed the disqualifications of her husband Noel Rosal and Jose Alfonso Barizo in the 2022 NLE for violating the Omnibus Election Code "in relation with the disbursement and release of government funds during the prohibited period before a regular election." —RF, GMA Integrated News