Poll body DQs Benguet lawmaker’s namesake as nuisance bet

La Trinidad, Benguet November 28, 2024)—The Commission on Election Second Division has declared Congressional candidate Adam Yap as a nuisance candidate citing his apparent lack of genuine intent to actively engage in the election process as a candidate.

Benguet lawmaker Eric Go Yap said his namesake maliciously filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) and merely put the election process in mockery or disrepute and to cause confusion among voters.

“I had to file a petition to declare Mr. Adam Yap as a nuisance candidate because I received reports of what transpired that prompted him to file his candidacy and I thank the COMELEC for seeing the merits of my petition," Yap said.

The Comelec ruling cited that “nuisance candidates are persons who file their certificates of candidacy to put the election process in mockery or disrepute or to cause confusion among voters by the similarity of the names of the registered candidates or by other circumstances and that the candidate has no bonafide intention to run for the office.”

Comelec noted that Adam Yap “has the same surname with the incumbent district representative of Benguet, and there is an inherent risk that voters may mistakenly associate him with Cong. Eric Go Yap which could lead to distorted voting behavior.”

"Hindi po ako galit at wala po tayo sama ng loob kay Mr. Adam Yap, in fact, some of the members of his family reached out to me and apologized. Wala pong dapat ihingi ng tawad dahil biktima lang rin po si Adam Yap ng ilang tao na may mga political agenda," the Benguet lawmaker said.

The poll body further explained that “the likelihood of voter misapprehension is not only theoretical but is supported by empirical evidence in previous elections where confusion over candidates with the same surnames has led to votes being misplaced or casted erroneously.”



Comelec added such instances not only compromise the integrity of the elections but also diminish the public's trust and confidence in the electoral system.

Rep. Yap added, “I received reports from trusted sources na si Adam Yap daw was approached by two people. They convinced him to file for Congressman with the intention to confuse the voters, syempre nga naman we share the same last name tapos mauuna pa sya sa akin sa balota alphabetically. We must remember, shading na po ang ballots so walang ma-credit sa akin pag siya ang naiboto because of confusion.”

The Benguet lawmaker stressed, “I denounce these actions, strategies, whatever they want to call it. Let us respect the electoral process and let the will of the people prevail. Huwag naman po sana mag-resort sa propaganda at panloloko ng tao. Filing ng candidacy pa lang yan ganyan na, what more sa mga susunod pa?" 

The poll body further ruled that circumstances show that Adam Yap's certificate of candidacy for member of the House of Representative in the May 12, 2025 National and Local Election is denied or cancelled.