Yesterday, Adam Yap filed his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) at the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Benguet Provincial Office to run for Congressman of the province.
But this afternoon, October 2, the agency received a petition from the Legal Council of Current Benguet Congressman Eric Go Yap.
The petition requests that COMELEC thoroughly review Adam Yap’s COC to determine if he is a nuisance candidate.
According to COMELEC Benguet Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Elenita Julia Tabangin-Capuyan, they cannot yet declare adam as a nuisance candidate until they understand his reason for running.
“When we say nuisance candidate according to the omnibus election code, it’s a person who files a certificate of candidacy that will cause confusion due to the similarity of names or any other factor, election process, If that is a nuisance,” says Capuyan.
It is also expected that Adam Yap will run against incumbent Benguet Congressman Eric Yap in the upcoming election.
“We’re still in the preliminary stage, no case has been filed yet. But the core issue regarding a nuisance candidate is the bona fide intention to run, was the filing of the certificate of candidacy done in good faith, that’s the question here,” Capuyan added.
Both camps will have to wait for five days before COMELEC central office releases their decision on the investigation.
**VANESSA BUGTONG