Prayer rally held for Albay government reinstatement

MANILA, Philippines — More than 20,000 supporters of disqualified Albay governor Noel Rosal held a prayer rally in Sawangan Park in Legazpi City on Monday to seek his reinstatement.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) First Division disqualified Rosal last year for alleged violation of the 45-day spending ban during the May 9 elections.

Rosal was ordered to vacate his post and Vice Gov. Edcel Lagman Jr. assumed as governor.

Led by Fr. Willy Alvarado, Rosal’s supporters expressed their dismay over the Comelec decision, saying the poll body should uphold the vote of the people.

“We pray that the Supreme Court (SC) will hear our appeal to reinstate our Albay governor Noel Rosal,” Alvarado said. “By effectively ignoring our votes, almost half a million Albayanos are being disenfranchised. This is a basic, inherent and unassailable God-given human right.”

“We feel robbed of our right to our votes. We are pleading for them to intervene and give the Albayanos clarity and we are praying for them to give back our chosen governor,” he added.

Rosal’s disqualification stemmed from the distribution of financial assistance to tricycle drivers on March 31 and senior citizens on April 2.

His wife Geraldine, the mayor of Legazpi City, was also disqualified over the same offense.

However, the SC released a status quo ante order suspending the mayor’s disqualification and stopping former congressman Alfredo Garbin from taking over her post.

Supporters of the governor are hoping for the same intervention from the SC.