1 month ago
20
LEGAZPI CITY — Albayanos from all walks of life are rejoicing after the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order preventing the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from implementing the resolution canceling ousted governor Noel Rosal's certificate of candidacy (COC) for the gubernatorial post in Albay on May 12, 2025 polls.
The high court issued GR 277739, Noel Ebriega Rosal v. Comelec and Josefino Valenzuela Dioquino, a TRO preventing Comelec from implementing the resolutions canceling Rosal's COC for Albay governor.
The Supreme Court also ordered the Comelec to comment on Rosal's petition within a non-extendible period of five days from receipt of the notice.
Rosal was challenging the Comelec resolutions, canceling his COC for Albay governor.
The Court said that respondent Dioquino prayed for automatic administrative cancellation of Rosal's COC because the Ombudsman had dismissed Rosal from service, which carries the penalty of perpetual disqualification to hold public office.
Get the latest news
delivered to your inbox
Sign up for The Manila Times newsletters
By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Following the Supreme Court issuance of TRO for Rosal, a neck-and-neck fight between Rosal and comebacking lawmaker Joey Salceda is expected in Albay.
Agnes Jacob Nepomuceno, a professor at Bicol University College of Arts and Letters, said, "Let the freedom of suffrage rule."
"This is it! The reckoning time. Let the freedom of suffrage rule," she said in a post soon after the Supreme Court issued the temporary restraining order.
Rep. Fernando Cabredo of the Third District of Albay and Ligao City Mayor Fernando Gonzalez lauded the decision of the Court.
A few days ago, the Albayanos braved the heavy downpour, begging the high council to grant Rosal a TRO to let him run for the May polls.
The protesters brought with them the image of the Virgin Mary, gathered at the compound of the St. Stephen The Protomartyr Parish Church in Ligao City, and prayed the rosary, calling the Supreme Court justices to grant a TRO and allow Albayanos to choose a leader for the province's top post freely.
