LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Rep. Eric Yap shrugged off the disqualification case that was filed against him that resulted to the temporary suspension of his proclamation Tuesday afternoon, saying that the people need not worry about the effect of the said case as he will again answer the same.
Yap, who attended the proclamation of the winning candidates in the provincial level at the Provincial Capitol and awaiting his proclamation, welcomed the decision of the provincial board of canvassers (PVOC) to temporarily suspend the same upon the directive from the Second Division of the Commission on election (Comelec) as it is the right thing to do because of a pending decision that will be rendered on a petition for disqualification against him relative to his supposed citizenship.
The lawmaker claimed that the Comelec’s ruling is a mere suspension of his proclamation and that there are no votes that had been casted that will be invalidated because the votes that were casted for him remain intact and ready to be canvassed by the PVOC.
Last year, a petition for disqualification was filed against him which questioned his citizenship for the second time since the said issue was already answered and awaiting the ruling that will be rendered by the Comelec’s Second Division.
According to him, the case filed against him has no merits and that there is no reason for him to think that he will be at the losing end.
In 2021, Yap was the subject of a disqualification case based in his residency but the said case was dismissed by the poll body.
“We endured all the frustrations and pain caused by non-stop attack during the campaign and this case is nothing compared to the one hundred forty four thousand ninety three people who voted for him to continue what had been started. I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and everyone of you who believed in me. This is not a reward but a renewal of responsibility and I am not competing against anybody but myself. I want to challenge myself to improve and produce better results and I am committed to do that, Yap said.
According to him, the next three years will be the golden years of Benguet, thus, the people should support him to achieve the said aspiration.
He congratulated the new set of provincial and municipal officials who were elected by the people of Benguet, saying that they will have a difficult task ahead of trying to elevate their respective communities to a higher level of development beneficial to the greater welfare of the populace and for the brighter future for the upcoming generations.
Congressman Yap extended his hand of unity and collaboration to his fellow candidate for them to stand together to advance the greater interest of the people of Benguet.
He reiterated that he will continue to work for the welfare of the people of Benguet considering that his current term will still end by noon of June 30 and that he remains optimistic that the poll body will be able to resolve the pending disqualification case against him on or before his term ends for him to have a fresh start in serving the interest of the province geared towards a brighter future for the inhabitants. By Dexter A. See
