36,000 BENGUET VOTERS ASK COMELEC TO PROCLAIM YAP

June 8, 2025 Headlines

BENGUET

The convenors of the peace rally last week submitted a copy of their manifesto signed by 36,025 Benguet voters to proclaim Rep. Eric Yap as the winner of the May 12 elections with the Commission on Elections – Cordillera Wednesday, June 4, prior they submit the same with
the national office tomorrow. “It is a call to proclaim Cong. Yap as congressman to assure our province mates that we have a duly elected
congressman,” said lead convenor Gary Abela carrying the 9-inch duplicate of the manifesto signed by resident voters from the 13
municipalities before submitting same with the COMELEC – Cordillera Wednesday afternoon.

The signatures were gathered in a week-long campaign that started with a full pack rally at the La Trinidad parking lot behind the municipal hall last May 28. “It was made by them, done by them asking the COMELEC to proclaim Yap,” said lawyer Francis Ray Camtugan, representing the convenors. Camtugan said that the manifesto is to help fast track the resolution of the seven cases of disqualification against Yap who defeated Vice Gov Ericson Felipe by more than 80,000 votes. “We will submit it (original) tomorrow with the national Comelec,” he added. Camtugan said that it will be the “comments be part of the records to resolve (the seven) cases.

It is their sentiment (they want) to be part of the records,” Camtugan added. Some seven cases of disqualification had been filed against Yap including issues on citizenship and vote buying, among others. Camtugan pleaded with those behind the cases to accept the result of the election where Yap garnered 144,093 votes against the 62,371 of

Felipe. Pigeon Lobien/ABN