The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday affirmed the disqualification of Noel Rosal as Albay Governor, Carmen Geraldine Rosal as Legazpi City Mayor, and Jose Alfonso Barizo as city councilor, during the 2022 national and local elections.
The SC, sitting En Banc, said their disqualifications are “for violating the Omnibus Election Code in relation with the disbursement and release of government funds during the prohibited period before a regular election.”
As to the petition-in-intervention of Oscar Robert Cristobal, the High Tribunal directed the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to “separately docket a disqualification proceeding against Cristobal to determine whether he is also disqualified from running for the office of Vice Mayor in elections, alongside the other petitioners in these consolidated cases.”
Meanwhile, the Court also ruled on the separate petitions challenging a Comelec Resolution No. 11044-A issued last month.
Said resolution disqualifies Rosal, as well as Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama from participating as candidates in the 2025 elections following their respective dismissals by the Ombudsman, which include the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification to hold public office.
The SC ordered that the cases be consolidated and issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Comelec, which was ordered to comment on the petitions within a non-extendible period of 10 days from receipt of notice.
