Albayanos rejoice over SC TRO given to Rosal

The 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 cancelling ousted governor Noel Rosal’s certificate of candidacy for gubernatorial post in Albay in May 12, 2025 polls.

The high court issued G.R. No. 277739, Noel Ebriega Rosal vs. COMELEC and Josefino Valenzuela Dioquino, a TRO preventing the COMELEC from implementing the resolutions cancelling Noel Rosal’s Certificate of Candidacy for Albay Governor.

The SC also ordered the COMELEC to comment on Rosal’s petition within a non-extendible period of 5 days from receipt of notice. Rosal was challenging the COMELEC Resolutions cancelling his COC for Albay Governor.

The court said that respondent Dioquino prayed for the 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.

Following the Supreme Court issuance of TRO for Rosal, a neck-to-neck fight between Rosal and come backing last termer lawmaker Joey Sarte Salceda is expected in Albay.

Agnes Jacob Nepomuceno, a professor of Bicol University College of Arts and Letters (BUCAL) said to 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 Supreme Court for giving a temporary restraining order over Rosal saying the Albayanos will be given a chance to choose the rightful leader in the province’s top post through their suffrage.

Few days ago, the Albayanos from all walks of life braved the heavy downpour begging the Supreme Court to grant Rosal a TRO to let him run for gubernatorial race in May 12, 2025 polls.

The protesters bringing with them the image of the Virgin Mary, gathered at the compound of the St. Stephen The Protomartyr Parish Church in Ligao City pray a rosary and knocking the Supreme Court justices to grant a TRO for Rosal to allow the Albayanos freely choose a leader for the province top post.

Fr. Dennis Postrado of St. Michael Parish in Oas town stood before thousands of solid Rosal supporters across the province professing the “Prayer for Justice and Clarity in Leadership” intended for the Supreme Court justices.

“Grant wisdom to the institutions tasked with ensuring fairness and justice, especially the courts and electoral bodies. May they carry out their duties with integrity, free from bias and undue influence, so that their actions may reflect your will and serve the common good,” he said.

“Lord, we entrust to You the Supreme Court. Inspire its justices to uphold what is right and just, ensuring that the voice of the people is heard and respected. May every person be given the opportunity to choose leaders who will serve with humility, compassion, and dedication to the welfare of all, especially the most vulnerable,” Fr. Postrado said.

“We ask for equal opportunities for all leaders and candidates, so that no one may be deprived of a chance to serve because of partiality or injustice. May Your Spirit of unity and peace reign over our province and our nation, healing divisions and inspiring cooperation for the sake of the common good,” Fr. Postrado said.

“Nuestra Señora de Salvación, Heavenly Queen of Albay and our refuge in times of need, intercede for us before Your Son. As you have guided our province through calamities and trials, guide us now that we may remain steadfast in hope and faithful to God’s will. Be our protector and advocate, that we may find justice, peace, and harmony under your loving care,” he continued.

Another priest, Fr. Jose Barranda, Parochial vicar of Sto. Domingo Parish also stood before the 5,000 or so crowd and said that he stood before the people as a representative of the church and as a citizen stressing that the church is not favoring any politicians.

“I stand before you as a representative of the church and as a citizen. The church is not favoring a person or any politician and political party. I am here to express my principles and the teachings of the church and of God,” Barranda read a statement under the rain.

Barranda discussed two things before the crowd; social justice and fair play. “I have two things to explain to the people and to the leader present and to anyone who wants to serve the people,” he said.

Quoting provisions based on the 1987 Philippine Constitution Article 2, section 9, 9, 10,11, 18 and 21 including the article 13, pertaining social justice, he said that social justice promotes the welfare of every person, whether poor or rich, is given the same privilege and opportunity.

Remember the phrase Salus populi est suprema lex, the welfare of man is the highest law. All we have done should be for the goodness of the majority; he said in a local dialect.

“In a renowned speech of Justice Jose Laurel in the case of Calalang vs Williams, “social justice is neither communism nor despotism nor atomism nor anarchy but humanitarian of laws and equalization of social and economic forces by the state so that justice in its national and objectively secular conception may at least be approximated,” he said.

He said that the law is not for the few, it is not the exercise of power in an oppressive and selfish way. It is not anarchy; it’s not controlled by a few people. The law is made for the people, the people should not be slaves of the law.

“The humanization of law is the highest spirit of law. The welfare of the people. Second, the beauty of democracy is fair play. Let the people choose who to vote for without influence. Let anyone run as a candidate without hesitation or fear that he might be kicked out. Let the people decide,” he said.

“The church stands for people’s well-being and equal opportunity to vote and equal candidacy. Today, I am inviting you to pray with full of hope to our Lord and to celebrate the Church in this year 2025, as the Jubilee year of Hope,” he said.

“That in the face of challenges despite the difficulties we are going through today, we have hope that because we are in God’s presence, we will not lose hope. He knows what we need and he will never abandon us,” Barranda said.

Aside from the priests, supporters of Rosal from all walks of life recited a prayer in between the rosary, a prayer for the Supreme Court to hear its pleas for democracy in Albay, to decide with wisdom, listen with compassion, understanding and fairness.

“May the Supreme Court be guided by truth, justice, and righteousness in all their decisions, grant them clarity and discernment as they address the matters that lie before them,” Nonilyn Orogo, a youth from Guinobatan said in a prayer. – RHAYDZ BARCIA