Comelec en banc affirms Rosal disqualification from 2025 Albay gubernatorial race

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc has denied the motion for reconsideration (MR) that questioned the ruling of its Second Division to cancel the certificate of candidacy (COC) of Noel Rosal for Albay governor in the May 2025 polls.

According to the en banc, it has found no merit in the MR filed by Rosal, saying it was a “mere rehash" of the same arguments and positions already raised and discussed.

"To be clear, the Commission (Second Division) discussed extensively that the Petition was granted not because of administration cancellation of the COC under Comelec Resolution No. 11044-A, but on the basis of grounds of denial of due course to or cancellation of COC and disqualification, which exist distinctly and independently as causes of action as found in the allegations [of] the Petition,” the Comelec en banc said.

“We agree with the discussion of the Commission (Second Division) that there are factual grounds to disqualify Respondent Rosal under Section 40 (b) of the Local Government Code as restated in Comelec Resolution No. 11045, which likewise provides grounds for the disqualification of candidates for the 2025 NLE (National and Local Elections)," it said.

In December 2024, the Comelec Second Division granted a petition seeking to disqualify Rosal after the Office of the Ombudsman found him guilty of grave misconduct and oppression over his decision to reassign without justification three department heads to lower-ranked positions in different offices.

The poll body division said the decision, which dismissed Rosal from the service, disqualified Rosal from running for a local elective position and prohibited him from holding any public office. —VBL, GMA Integrated News