MANILA, Philippines — With a only a few months left before the May 2025 elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to proclaim on Monday Alfredo Garbin Jr. as the new mayor of Legazpi City.
The decision came after the poll body disqualified and unseated Carmen Rosal as mayor for violating the Omnibus Election Code.
In its decision, the Comelec ordered the Special City Board of Canvassers (SCBOC) of Legazpi City to convene at 10 a.m. on Nov. 11 to proclaim Garbin.
“The SCBOC of Legazpi City has given due notice to the parties that it shall convene at the Comelec Session Hall, 8th Floor, Palacio del Gobernador Building, Intramuros, Manila to proclaim the 2nd placer, Alfredo A. Garbin Jr., as the duly elected Mayor of Legazpi City,” the Comelec said in a statement.
Garbin lost to Rosal for the mayoral post in the May 2022 elections.
However, the Comelec disqualified Rosal in October 2022 for violating the Omnibus Election Code in connection with the disbursement and release of government funds during a prohibited period.
The Supreme Court last month promulgated a decision affirming the disqualification of Rosal.
BARMM filing of candidacies ends today
Meanwhile, the Comelec said there would be no extension of the period for the filing of certificates of candidacy and certificates of acceptance of nomination for the May 2025 Bangsamoro parliamentary elections.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the commission will strictly implement the Nov. 9 deadline for those aspiring to run as parliamentary district representative or in the regional parliamentary political parties or RPPP.
“No extensions. Let us not be so used to having extensions. I am telling you, there will be no extensions,” Garcia said.
As of Thursday, there were 80 aspirants for parliamentary district representatives – 32 in Lanao del Sur, 16 in Maguindanao del Norte, 12 in Basilan, 11 in Maguindanao del Sur, seven in Tawi-Tawi and two in the Special Geographic Area (SGA) in Cotabato.
The Comelec said there are three RPPPs that have filed their certificates of acceptance of nomination, list of nominees and manifestation of intent to participate in the parliamentary elections.
Under the Bangsamoro Electoral Code, there will be 25 parliamentary district seat allocations, with eight for Lanao del Sur, four for Maguindanao del Norte, four for Maguindanao del Sur, three for Basilan, three for Tawi-Tawi, two for Cotabato City and one for the SGA in Cotabato province.
There are also 40 seats for regional parliamentary political parties to be contested on election day.?