After withdrawing protest vs Gwen: Yapha decides to run for mayor

CEBU, Philippines- After  withdrawing  his electoral protest against third district Representative Gwendolyn Garcia, defeated congressional candidate Geraldine Yapha has decided to run for mayor in Pinamungajan in the 2016 elections, the position she held for three terms.

Following her decision, no other name yet has come out to run against Garcia, while another potential congressional candidate of the Liberal Party, Tuburan Mayor Democrito Diamante Jr., had earlier announced he will not run against the former lady governor for Congress.

Yapha’s ally, Toledo City Mayor John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña, has also expressed support to the reelection bid of Garcia, saying the lady lawmaker is doing well.

Yapha would be running against Garcia’s ally, Mayor Glenn Baricuatro, who defeated in the 2013 elections Yapha’s mother, former mayor and board member Estrella Yapha.

Yapha has not yet announced her complete slate but her runningmate would be her niece, Vice Mayor Maria Honeylette Yapha-Lingad.

Geraldine filed an Urgent Motion to Withdraw Election Protest and Unused Cash Deposit on June 30, 2015 wherein she stated that she is withdrawing her protest, but not conceding her loss in the 2013 elections.

Days after, the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) released its decision dated June 8, 2015 resolving to dismiss the electoral protest filed by Yapha against Garcia, and to affirm the proclamation of the latter as the duly elected representative of the third district of Cebu in the May 2013 elections.

Yapha in filing her motion said she came to realize that her resources are better utilized in serving the constituents of the third district of Cebu while HRET has not yet acted on her electoral protest knowing the fact that there is barely a year left before the next elections.

“Rather, my decision to put behind me and leave the events of the May 2013 elections, is based solely on my desire to focus instead all my resources to further and better serve my constituents and reaffirming my legacy as a public servant in the coming May 2016 elections,” said added.

Yapha filed an election protest against Garcia claiming that there were 41,858 stray ballots that were not counted.  Yapha lost by 1,984 votes against Garcia.  (FREEMAN)