By Carmelo Redencion Jr 
Legazpi City, Albay – The ongoing political feud between Albay 2nd District Representative Joey Salceda and dismissed and disqualified Albay Governor Noel Rosal has intensified as their “Battle of the Tapes” spreads like wildfire on Facebook and other social media platforms.
A widely circulated post, comparing the two politicians in a point-by-point rebuttal format, has sparked heated debates online. The viral post outlines allegations against both Salceda and Rosal, covering wealth accumulation, corruption accusations, political longevity, disaster response, and party-switching history.
Key Points of Controversy
The infographic compares Salceda’s background as a former top stock market analyst in Asia with Rosal’s past as a barangay captain and son of a DPWH official. It also highlights zero Ombudsman convictions Salceda versus two convictions for Rosal (actually 1 Ombudsman and 1 Comelec as affirmed by the Supreme Court).
Other topics include:
Quarrying Issues: Salceda is credited with strict mining regulations, while Rosal’s side is embroiled in fake receipt issues in quarry transactions, which were discovered after he was booted out as governor.
Disaster Response: The post contrasts Salceda’s leadership during Typhoon Juaning (2011), which recorded nine casualties, against Rosal’s tenure during Typhoon Reming (2006), which led to over 200 deaths.
Vacillating Party Loyalty: The post highlights Salceda’s two party shift’s from PDP-Laban (2019) to Lakas-CMD (2022-Present), while Rosal is criticized for changing political affiliations four times in the last five years, from PDP-Laban (2020), to KANP (2021), to Partido Federal (2022), and back to PDP-Laban (2024).
Political and Public Reactions
The post, featuring the phrase “WAG KASING NAGLILINIS-LINISAN” at the bottom, appears to be a direct counterattack against Rosal supporter’s criticisms of Salceda. Supporters from both camps have flooded the comments sections with opposing views, with some praising Salceda’s governance and others accusing him of political mudslinging.
With the 2025 elections looming, the Salceda-Rosal rivalry is expected to escalate further. As social media remains the battleground for narratives and counter-narratives, the public remains divided on who truly has the upper hand in Albay’s political war.
Will this Battle of the Tapes influence the political landscape of Albay? Or is it just the beginning of a more intense showdown leading up to the elections?