REP.YAP, VICE GOV. TAGEL FELIPE TIGHT RACE IN BENGUET CONGRESSIONAL POSITION

October 5, 2024 Provincial

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet

A close fight is expected in Benguet’s congressional race between incumbent Rep. Eric Go Yap and Vice Gov. Ericson “Tagel” Felipe. In an informal poll made by a Baguio-based media outlet, Mountain Beacon, the race between the two Erics was a virtual deadlock. Both parties also filed their candidacies today. Rep. Eric Yap and his team belong to Lakas CMD while Vice Gov. Felipe and his team were sworn in under BBM’s Partido Federal ng Pilipinas.

Gov. Melchor Diclas will vie for his third term with former boardmember Marie Rose Fongwan-Kepes as his vice
governor. Diclas’s former vice-governor Johnny Waguis will vie for governor under Felipe with former Vice-Gov. Nelson Dangwa as his partner. Yap’s boardmembers are BM Alexander Fianza, BM Johannes Amuasen, Bokod
Mayor Thomas Wales, Jr, and Charmaine Molintas-Likigan for District I, and BM Neptali Camsol, Kapangan Mayor
Manny Fermin, Buguias Mayor Ruben Tinda-an, Tublay Mayor Armando Lauro, La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda, and former Mankayan Mayor Frenzel Ayong for District II.

Under Felipe are former Itogon councilor Johnny Galutan, Myrna Tomino Nazarro, and Jhonar Rebutazo for District I, and BM Joel Tingbaoen Jr., former BM Jim Botiwey, Atty. Thorrsson Keith and Alexander Castaneda for District II. Rep. Yap was a partylist representative ACT-CIS when he was chosen to replace Benguet Rep. Nestor Fongwan
who died in 2019. Yap won in 2022 against Itogon Mayor Victor Palangdan. Curiously, another Yap also filed his COC as Benguet representative on October 2. Like Yap, Adam Yap wore denim jacket and pants when he ran
as independent.