Speaker Martin Romualdez on Wednesday administered the oath of office to replacement Albay Gov. Edcel Greco Lagman.
Lagman was elected vice governor of the province in last year’s elections. However, he assumed the position recently after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) disqualified elected Gov. Noel Rosal.
“Congratulations on your new responsibility as governor of the province of Albay,” Romualdez told Lagman after the simple oath-taking rites held at the Speaker’s Office in the House of Representatives Wednesday afternoon.
“I am confident that you will serve your constituents to the best of your ability and accord the highest priority for their welfare,” the Speaker added.
Lagman was accompanied by his father, Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman, who held the post multiple times since 1987.
Also with them to witness the event were Ako Bicol party-list Reps. Elizaldy Co, chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, and Raul Angelo Bongalon, as well as former congressman Alfredo Garbin who had represented the same party list in the chamber.
Meanwhile, Rosal filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to stop the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from implementing an en banc resolution disqualifying him as the duly elected governor of the province.
Rosal’s petition for certiorari included a plea for the issuance of a temporary restraining order and writ of preliminary injunction by the High Court against the poll body.
Rosal is contesting the move by the Comelec en banc which affirmed an earlier resolution by the poll body’s First Division disqualifying him from running for the position of governor in the May 2022 elections based on a complaint filed by a certain Joseph Armogila.
In his petition, Rosal alleged that the Comelec had deprived him of his “constitutional right to due process” after the poll body denied his motion to reset “hearing on the preliminary conference despite justifiable grounds.”
Rosal also said the poll body had issued the disqualification ruling based on “mere allegations” and despite the failure of Armogila to “adduce evidence” that Rosal had actually disbursed funds during a prohibition period specified by the Omnibus Election Code.
Rosal also asked the High Court to determine a possible “grave abuse of discretion” on the part of the poll body when the latter issued the ruling in question.
