“Seven cases…to prevent me from assuming my role”- Yap fires back, to sue those behind his disqualification cases

La Trinidad, Benguet - Benguet representative Eric Go Yap announced his plan to file legal cases against the people who want him disqualified from holding office, following the seven petitions filed against him. 

The people who filed the disqualification cases questioned Yap’s citizenship, which is a requirement to run for Congress. Some claimed he hadn’t lived in Benguet long enough and accused him of vote-buying. 

With the disqualification cases, the provincial Commission on Elections (COMELEC - Benguet) held back his proclamation. 

In response to these claims, Yap said in his Facebook post on May 29 that there is no real proof behind the cases. He asked why the same issues were filed multiple times instead of being combined into one. 

“Seven cases trying to prevent me from assuming my role—ano po ang dahilan? Why keep on filing cases using the same grounds? Bakit iba-iba pa ang pag-file at hindi pinag-isa? Bakit wala ding mailatag na ebidensya at puro speculation lang? ,” he wrote. 

Yap asserted that the cases filed against him are unfair and meant to ignore the votes of over 144,000 people who chose him in the May 12 polls. 

“Bakit pinipilit na alisan ng boses ang 144,093 na taong namili noong May 12? Para kanino? Para saan? Kaninong interest ang pinaglalaban? Ayaw niyo bang umusad tayo at magtulungan na lang para sa Benguet? ,“ he added. 

Yap fights back

To fight for the trust given to him by the people, Yap announced that his lawyers will respond properly with plans to sue the people behind the petitions. The lawmaker said the complaints are damaging his name and disrespecting the legal process. 

“Same as the previous cases, we will address this in a proper venue. AND I ASSURE YOU, CASES WILL ALSO BE FILED AGAINST THESE PETITIONERS AND THE PEOPLE BEHIND THEM. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH,” Yap further wrote. 

Yap received a total of 144,093 votes in the May 12 elections, which is twice as high compared to the 62,371 votes garnered by who was considered to be his closest opponent, Ericson “Tagel” Felipe. 

However, the COMELEC suspended his proclamation a day after the election due to the first disqualification case. If no decision is made by June 30, Benguet could be left without a representative in Congress.