Yap finally proclaimed Congressman of Benguet after nearly 2 months of legal battle

La Trinidad, Benguet - After nearly two months of legal battle,  Eric Go Yap finally secured his post as Benguet’s representative following his proclamation on July 2, 2025, at the provincial Commission on Election’s Office (COMELEC-Benguet).  

The proclamation came after the COMELEC En Banc issued the certificate of finality early this day, affirming the Second Division’s dismissal of the disqualification cases filed against Yap.  

According to the Philippine Information Agency-Benguet, the Provincial Board of Canvassers (PBOC) convened and declared Yap as the duly elected Congressman of Benguet at exactly 3:47 p.m.  

“The Provincial Board of Canvassers (PBOC) proclaimed Benguet Congressman Eric Go Yap today, July 2, 2025. The PBOC convened after receiving the certificate of finality from the COMELEC En Banc earlier this morning,” the PIA-Benguet reported.  

The ruling follows five days after the COMELEC Second Division officially junked multiple petitions seeking Yap’s disqualification. With no further motions filed within the regulatory period, the decision gained finality, paving the way for the reconvening of the PBOC AND Yap’s proclamation.

Information on Yap’s oath-taking was not mentioned by the said media. 

It can be recalled that Yap’s proclamation was suspended a day after the May 12, 2025 elections due to the first disqualification case lodged against him. Following the first case, six others were filed.

The petitions questioned Yap’s citizenship, while some claimed he hadn’t lived in Benguet long enough and accused him of vote-buying. 

In his previous Facebook statements, responding to these claims, the lawmaker said that there is no real proof behind the cases and they are only meant to prevent him from holding office. 

“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 in one of his posts. 

He fired back at the petitioners by filing legal charges against them to fight for the trust given to him by the people. With the disqualification cases, the COMELEC-Benguet did not declare him as the winner until he was finally proclaimed on July 2.  

The congressman has not yet issued a statement regarding his proclamation as of this writing.