LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The Second Division of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) recently dismissed three disqualification cases that were filed by separate complainants against re-elected Rep. Eric Yap for lack of merit but the suspension of his proclamation has not yet been lifted.
However, the division is still currently deliberating on the four pending disqualification cases including the one that was filed by Franklin Tino last year which was the basis of the poll body in ordering the suspension of Yap’s proclamation last May 13, 2025 pending the resolution of the said case.
The disqualification cases that were dismissed by the Comelec include the ones that were filed by Rufino Y. Soriano III and Agustina Igualdo Peter under SPA No. 25-239; Milton L. Ladiocan under SPA No. 25-240 and Zacarias Juan Depolio, Loreto B. Buya-an, Dalmacio Sissi-it, Eusebio P. Fernandez, Pedro Wayan Cosente, Jovito Palayen, Freddie L. Punasen, Mariano Tininggal and Victor Belino under SPA No. 25-241.
These disqualification cases were grounded on the questions on Yap’s citizenship and alleged massive vote buying activities during the campaign period for the concluded May 12, 2025 mid-term elections.
While he is delighted about the latest development, the Benguet lawmaker expressed his disgust on the alleged actions being taken by some quarters to prevent his proclamation as the province’s duly elected Representative to the House.
He is also saddened on the delays of the supposed roll out and implementation of various services and programs being spearheaded by his office because of the filed disqualification cases that serve as hindrances in his ability to perform his duties and responsibilities as the duly elected congressional district representative.
“We will not back down, ilalaban natin ang boses ng 144,093 at kanilang mga pamilya at kaibigan. Maraming salamat po sa lahat ng tumatawag, nagpapadala ng mensahe, mga nagdadasal, at mga sumusuporta sa atin. Maraming salamat po sa pagmamahal ninyo. Ramdam na ramdam ko po kayo. Above all, salamat sa Panginoon sa lakas na patuloy na binibigay sa atin.
I can’t wait na matapos lahat ito, for us to be united again in our vision for a more progressive Benguet, at hindi nag-aaway away dahil sa pulitika. Tapos na po ang election, nananawagan po ako, tama na, sana ay magkaisa na tayo. Para sa Benguet,” Yap stressed.
Yap’s term from June 30, 2022 to June 30, 2025 will expire by noon of June 30 and that if there will be no proclamation that will be made by the poll body, the position of the province’s representative will be vacant until such time that the Comelec will decide on the pending disqualification case that caused the suspension of his proclamation.
Political analysts stated that once the said position is vacant, the House leadership will eventually decide to appoint a caretaker congressman that will temporarily occupy the post while Yap’s disqualification case is being tackled by the poll body based on the merits.
The House Speaker will determine the qualified caretaker congressional representative upon consultation with local leaders and concerned stakeholders considering the enormous job that he will have to handle following the accomplishments of the lawmaker as the province’s duly elected congressman from 2022 to present and as a caretaker congressman from January 2020 to June 30, 2022. By Dexter A. See
