COMELEC ORDERS YAP’S PROCLAMATION

June 28, 2025 Headlines

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet

The Commission on Elections Second Division last June 21 lifted the suspension of proclamation of Rep. Eric Yap and ordered the provincial board of canvassers to proclaim him as winner of the May 12 elections. Yap had been the subject of cases filed before the
Comelec barring him from being proclaimed even after he won the election by more than 85,000 votes. The three page decision signed by Commissioner Rey Dulay noted that Yap’s position as Representative has been given due course and as a result ” the suspension of the
proclamation of respondent Eric G. Yap is here by lifted.

The Provincial Board of Benguet is here by directed to reconvene and proclaim respondent Eric G. Yap as the duly elected Member
of the House of Representatives for the Lone District of Benguet.” The decision signed also by Commissioners Nelson Celis and Noli Puno noted that petitioner Franklin Tino wanted Yap’s certificate of candidacy (COC) be cancelled due to the congressman’s citizenship. Tino alleged that Yap is not a natural born Filipino adding that Yap should not be qualified to seek said office. The commissioners said that the “petitioner has utterly failed to discharge this burden.” They wrote “Not a single of documentary, testimonial or circumstantial evidence has been adduced to support his claims against the respondent.”

They added in the case docketed as SPA No. 24-206 (DC) that “petitioner failed to prove that respondent deliberately committed material
misrepresentation as to his qualification when he indicated in his COC that he was a natural born Filipino citizen.” Gov. Melchor Diclas, vice gov. Mary Rose Fongwan – Kepes and the new provincial board will be inducted on Monday at the Capitol where Yap is expected to attend. Last June 6, a manifesto signed by some 36,000 Benguet residents was filed by a group led by Gary Abela with the Comelec asking that Yap be proclaimed.

PL/PA/ABN