Comelec proclaims Garbin as Legazpi mayor

Legazpi City Alfredo Garbin Jr. —Photo from his office

MANILA, Philippines — Newly proclaimed Mayor Alfredo Garbin Jr. of Legazpi City in Albay is expecting a peaceful transition of power after years of political unrest in the provincial capital.

The special city board of canvassers (SCBOC) officially proclaimed Garbin as the mayor of Legazpi on Monday at the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) headquarters in Intramuros, Manila.

Garbin, a former representative of the Ako Bicol party list, replaced Geraldine Rosal, whom the Supreme Court disqualified for violating the election spending ban.

When asked by reporters if he expects tensions to continue during the transition of power, Garbin answered: “I don’t think so. Legazpeños are peaceful and loving citizens.”

“I think this decision of the Supreme Court will put closure to the issue that really divides the city,” he said, as he expected Rosal’s camp to stop staging rallies to contest the decision.

Garbin’s term, however, will only last for seven months or until the end of June 2025. Garbin is seeking to return to the House of Representatives, running as the second nominee of the Ako Bicol party list for the midterm elections next year.

Rosal’s counsel manifested before Comelec that they filed an urgent motion with SCBOC and the Supreme Court to suspend the proclamation.

“However, after due deliberation and upon confirmation from its secretariat that it has not received any order or injunctive relief from the Supreme Court or the Comelec en banc in favor of Carmen Geraldine Rosal, the SCBOC of Legazpi City, Albay reiterated its limited authority to conduct the proceedings and continue with the convening,” Comelec said.

Disqualified

In October, the Supreme Court affirmed the disqualification of Geraldine Rosal as city mayor, her husband Noel Rosal as governor of Albay, and Jose Alfonso Barizo as Legazpi councilor for violating the Omnibus Election Code during the 2022 elections “in relation [to] the disbursement and release of government funds during the prohibited period before a regular election.”

During the 2022 polls, Rosal garnered 57,687 votes, defeating Garbin in a close fight with 57,137 votes.

In October of the same year, however, Comelec’s second division disqualified Rosal from the 2022 elections for “giving money to influence, induce, or corrupt voters,” an election offense. The decision was affirmed by the Comelec en banc resolution issued in May 2023.

The case stemmed from a Facebook post on March 31, 2022, about a two-day tricycle driver’s cash assistance payout. The post thanked Rosal for the activity and tagged her as “Mayor Gie Rosal,” even if she was not an incumbent mayor at the time.