Benguet rally backs lawmaker Eric Yap as disqualification petitions reach 7

With his proclamation suspended, Benguet Representative Eric Go Yap threatens to sue those who filed petitions seeking his disqualification

BENGUET, Philippines – Supporters of embattled Benguet Representative Eric Go Yap staged a rally in La Trinidad on Wednesday, May 28, as two more disqualification petitions were filed against the lawmaker, bringing the total to seven.

The event, held at the La Trinidad public market parking lot and dubbed “Kapya Ka-Benguetan: Healing Together, United in Prayer,” drew a large crowd. 

Although initially framed as a prayer gathering, the rally was really a public show of support for Yap, with chants for justice and fairness ringing out across the crowd.

Yap, facing a mounting legal challenge to his eligibility, decried the petitions as part of an orchestrated effort to overturn the will of Benguet voters. He warned of legal retaliation, calling the wave of complaints a clear case of “weaponizing” the legal process.

Gary Paul Abela, main convener of the rally, used the moment to warn of a looming leadership vacuum if the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) decisions are delayed. 

The sixth case was filed by Buguias residents Rufino Soriano III and Agustina Igualdo Peter, and received by Yap’s legal team on Tuesday, May 27.

The seventh, submitted a day later, was filed by 13 people: Cresencio Akia, Danny Montes, Patricio Ananayo, Demetrio Martin, Ceasar Sotelo, Luis Santiago, Bronson Sacpa, Valentin Leo, Ramos Guivac, Eleazar Narciso, Marcial Flores, Leonero Joseph, and Janielyn Takingan.

The petitions challenged Yap’s eligibility to serve as congressman on the grounds that he allegedly failed to meet the constitutional requirement of being a natural-born Filipino citizen, as stated in the Constitution.

The two were the latest in a string of legal challenges filed before the Comelec. The first petition, lodged months before the May 12 elections by a Benguet resident, alleged that Yap is not a natural-born Filipino citizen – a case that led to the suspension of his proclamation.

Three more petitions followed a week after the polls, raising separate grounds, including vote-buying and failure to meet the one-year residency requirement.

The fifth petition, filed on May 21 by nine people, also questioned Yap’s citizenship. However, two of the petitioners did not sign the document, and one signatory has since recanted.

On Thursday, May 29, Yap addressed the issue in a Facebook post, expressing frustration over the series of petitions and their recurring legal basis.

“Seven cases trying to prevent me from assuming my role – ano po ang dahilan (what is the reason)? Why keep on filing cases using the same grounds?” he wrote. “Bakit iba iba pa ang pag-file at hindi pinag-isa? Bakit wala ding mailatag na ebidensya at puro speculation lang (Why keep filing on the same grounds, and why file them separately instead of consolidating? There’s no solid evidence, just pure speculation).”

He also questioned the timing and motive behind the petitions. “Bakit pinipilit na alisan ng boses ang 144,093 na taong namili noong May 12? Para kanino? Para saan? Kaninong interest ang pinaglalaban? Ayaw nyo bang umusad tayo at magtulungan na lang para sa Benguet?”

(Why insist on stripping the voice of the 144,093 who voted last May 12? For whom? For what? Whose interest are we really serving? Can’t we just move forward and help Benguet instead?)

Yap said his lawyers will respond to the petitions in the appropriate forum, and threatened to file countersuits.

“Same as the previous cases, we will address this [in the] proper venue. And I assure you, cases will also be filed against these petitioners and the people behind them. Enough is enough,” he said.

He earlier told reporters that a lawsuit was being prepared against the petitioners.

“Masyadong malaking damage na yung ginagawa nila… Ito po ay mockery na, pambababoy na sa proseso,” Yap said.

(They’re causing too much damage already… This is a mockery, a desecration of the process.)

Yap received 144,093 votes in the May 12 elections, more than twice the number garnered by his closest rival, Ericson “Tagel” Felipe. But the Comelec suspended his proclamation a day after the election due to the first disqualification case. The remaining six followed in rapid succession.

The congressman’s term ends on June 30. If no proclamation is issued by then, Benguet’s lone congressional seat will be vacant. – Rappler.com