Legazpi bishop shows support for embattled Albay governor, wife

FILE PHOTO: Bishop Joel Baylon of the Archdiocese of Legazpi (Photo from Facebook)

MANILA, Philippines — Bishop Joel Baylon of the Diocese of Legazpi expressed his support for Albay Gov. Noel Rosal and his wife Legazpi Mayor Carmen Geraldine Rosal amid their disqualification cases.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) earlier disqualified the Rosal couple after the two participated in a two-day cash assistance payout for tricycle drivers and senior citizens during the 45-day campaign spending ban.

Baylon is urging the Comelec to reconsider its decision after attending a prayer rally that showed support for the two disqualified officials.

“Here is a leader who is trying to do his best of course he did that and sabi niya nga ‘hindi ko naman ito ginawa for aggrandizement o para mabotohan ako ginagawa na natin ito even before the elections, parte ito ng pagsulong tugon natin sa problema ng mahihirap’ then all of a sudden ginamit na dahilan para sabihin na namulitka siya illegal kanyang ginawa,” said Baylon.

(Here is a leader who is trying to do his best of course he did that and he said ‘I didn’t do it for aggrandizement or to get votes for me, we were already doing this even before the elections, this is part of the advancement our response to the problem of poor people’ then all of a sudden it was used as an excuse to say that he was politicized, tat what he did was illegal.)

“So let Comelec decide on that but let the Coemelc also see that there is something more here, it’s not just a matter of nandaya o gumawa ng mali (cheating or who did wrong),” he added.

He said that Noel was not an abusive leader, and one that does not claim power and richness.

According to Comelec Chairperson Goerge Garcia, the decisions on the disqualification cases are not final and executory because they can still be subject to a motion for reconsideration.

These motions will then be tackled by the Comelec En Banc, the results of which may still be elevated to the Supreme Court.

Baylon said that should the disqualification cases reach the Supreme Court, he hopes the process will be based on what is right, justice and truth, and not on money.

“‘Pag naramdaman ng tao na (once the people feel that) it’s just precisely because of that, then I’m sure people will not just accept this sitting down,” said Baylon.

But he clarified that money being involved is just an example of unscrupulous factors that may affect the decision.

“Kasi naniniwala naman tayo kaya nga pinapaubaya natin sa tamang proseso eh (because we believe that’s why we leave it to the right process),” he explained.

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