Rosal supporters brave rain in prayer rally knock SC’s for TRO

Ligao City – Bringing the image of the Virgin Mary, Albayanos from all walks of life along with the priests brave the rain in a prayer rally knocking the doors of the Supreme Court of the Philippines appealing to grant a temporary restraining order to let former Albay governor Noel Rosal run for gubernatorial race in May 2025 polls here.

The rallyists gathered at the compound of the St. Stephen The Protomartyr Parish Church in Ligao City over the weekend pray for rosary and pleas the justices of the Supreme Court 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.

“Heavenly Father, you are the source of all wisdom, justice, and peace. In this time of uncertainty and confusion, we humbly come before You, seeking your light to guide us through the shadows of doubt and division. We pray for clarity and truth to prevail in the decisions of those entrusted with safeguarding the integrity of our democracy,” he said in a prayer.

“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 continued.

“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,” he 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.

Help us, Father, as Your people, to remain steadfast in faith and hope. Teach us to work together as instruments of Your justice and love, trusting that You are always with us, even in times of uncertainty, the priest said through a prayer.

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.

Among the pleas of the rallyists to the High Court were no disqualification and for the voice of the people of Albay be heard; prayer to prevail democracy and prayer for the release of temporary restraining order.

Supporters of former Albay governor Noel Rosal staged a prayer rally in front of St. Stephen Protomartyr Parish Church in Ligao City on Saturday, January 11, protesting the Commission on Elections (Comelec) En Banc’s decision disqualifying Rosal to run for gubernatorial race in May 12, 2025 polls.

The rally began with the singing of religious hymns, followed by a novena. Ligao City Mayor Fernando Gonzalez said that the rallyists who brave the rain were estimated at 5,000 to 6,000 people despite the unfavorable weather conditions.

The protesters carrying placards slammed the Comelec’s ruling against Rosal and is seeking the Supreme Court to grant TRO for Rosal for him to run in May 12, 2025 polls. – RHAYDZ BARCIA