Comelec orders Albay governor Rosal to vacate post

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday ordered Albay Governor Noel Rosal to vacate his post following the decision upholding his disqualification.

Comelec spokesperson Rex Laudiangco said the order regarding the issuance of a writ of execution and the actual writ of execution were served to the concerned parties at 10:30 a.m.

“Idinedeklara na po ng Comelec at nag-uutos po kay Governor Rosal na bakantehin na po niya ang posisyon at ang opisina ng governor ng Albay,” he said in a media briefing.

(The Comelec has declared and ordered Governor Rosal to vacate his post and the office of the governor of Albay.)

Laudiangco said the Department of the Interior and Local Government was tasked to implement the resolution and remove Rosal from office.

“Under the orders of the Commission en Banc, the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government is directed to immediately implement the en Banc resolution… disqualifying Noel Rosal,” he said.

GMA News Online reached out to Rosal through his social media account but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.

Albay Vice Governor Edcel Lagman Jr. will replace Rosal while the highest-ranking member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan will take over Lagman’s post.

Last week, Comelec issued a certificate of finality and entry of judgment on the disqualification of Rosal.

This came after the Comelec en Banc junked his motion for reconsideration and upheld the Comelec First Division's decision to disqualify him.

However, Laudiangco said Rosal may still file a petition for review on certiorari within 30 days from notice of the decision under the Rules of Court.

“Pwedeng-pwede pa rin po mag-file. ‘Yun nga lang po, in the meantime na magpa-file siya, implement na po namin ang desisyon po ng Comelec,” he said.

(He can file. But, in the meantime, we will implement the decision of Comelec.)—AOL, GMA Integrated News