LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Members of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Benguet Chapter passed a resolution manifesting their opposition to the supposed call for the conduct of special election for the vacated seat of the Representative for the lone district of the province.
Resolution No. 05, series of 2020 that was unanimously approved by the 13 municipal mayors of the province was recently handed over to house Speaker Allan Peter Cayetano and the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) for their information, guidance and further needed action.
The resolution was signed by Atok Mayor Raymundo Sarac, Jr., Bakun Mayor Bill Raymundo, Bokod Mayor Thomas Wales, Jr., Buguias Mayor Ruben Tindaan, Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan, Kabayan Mayor Faustino Aquisan, Kapangan Mayor Manny Fermin, Kibungan Mayor Cesar Molitas, La Trinidad Mayor Romeo K. Salda, Mankayan Mayor Frenzel A. Ayong, Sablan Mayor Manuel Munar, Jr., Tuba Mayor Clarita Sal-ongan and Tublay Mayor Armando Lauro.
Earlier, the LMP-Benguet Chapter manifested its warmish greetings and congratulations to Anti-Crime and Terrorism through Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) Party-list Rep. Eric Go Yap for wholeheartedly accepting the challenge to represent the province in the House of Representatives with the promise to extend better public service to its people.
The resolution stated that with barely a month or two after his appointment, Congressman Yap displayed utmost passion to serve the people of the province, thus, the LMP is furthering its manifestation of appreciation and strong support to the caretaker congressman of the province.
Yap was appointed by House Speaker Allan Peter Cayetano as the province’s caretaker following the untimely demise of Rep. Nestor B. Fongwan, Sr. who succumbed to a lingering illness last December 18, 2020.
LMP Benguet Chapter also expressed its strong opposition to the call of some quarters in the province for the immediate holding of a special election to fil up the vacated congressional post.
On January 13, 2020, the provincial board passed a resolution requesting the COMELEC and the House of Representatives to immediately schedule a special election in the province to fill up the vacated congressional post with a fresh mandate from the electorate.
‘The league believes it is for the best interest of the people of Benguet for Congressman Yap to stay as caretaker until the election and assumption of a regular congressman in the year 2022,” the resolution stressed.
In a statement, Congressman Yap expressed his gratitude to the LMP Benguet chapter for their individual and collective trust and confidence on his ability to serve the people of the province even if he is not a native of Benguet.
He pointed out what he only want is to effectively and efficiently deliver to the people the necessary quality public services from government agencies.
“Mandato natin biling public servant na tugunan ang inatas sa atin na trabaho, ang magsilbi para sa probinsiya ng Benguet. Ating gagawin ang lahat ng ating makakaya para ating magampanan ang kakulangan na ito,” Yap stressed.
By Dexter A. See