For this ally of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the worst is yet to come. Whatever it takes, Cong. Arthur Yap of the third district and one of the fair-haired boys of the former president, said he is prepared for the worst. The GMA Yap was associated to is now on hospital arrest after she was booked for electoral sabotage, a non-bailable offense. The neophyte solon was interviewed by The Post during the wake of the paper’s matriarch who died Monday dawn. The third district lawmaker was one of the top provincial officials who paid their last respects to the remains of the wife of the Post publisher now lying in state at the family residence in Montana, Baclayon town. Among those who visited the remains were Gov. Edgar Chatto, Cong. Erico Amentado, City Mayor Dan Neri Lim, Marlito Uy of Alturas Group, Richard Uy, chair of First Consolidated Bank, lawyer Will Tirol and wife Babie Tirol of the University of Bohol, Jimmy Bartolaba of Bohol Beach Club and many others.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

In an exclusive interview, Cong. Yap said he has no qualms about the current government’s propensity of running after those who were associated with GMA. Aside from being a handpicked candidate for third district congressman, Yap also served as secretary of the Department of Agriculture during GMA’s reign. Through the blessing of his political patron, Yap was handed the third district Congress seat in a silver platter as no credible opponent contested his bid. Former representative Eladio “Boy” Jala was rumored to make a comeback bid months before the 2010 elections only to chicken out at the last minute to accept an offer of becoming commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission, a job he is still occupying to this day.

In the same interview, Yap said he had it from a good authority that allies tainted with alliance with the previous administration are made to bear the brunt of the “daang matuwid” campaign of the Aquino administration. Saying that while he hoped for the best but prepared for the worst, Yap felt the jitters of an impending prosecution of GMA allies after what happened to a perceived “protector” of the former president. He was referring to Chief Justice Renato Corona who is on the dock before an impeachment court. Aside from culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust and graft and corruption, the chief justice is also accused of his closeness to GMA. According to Yap, while he cannot escape accountability, he said he welcomed any attempt to bring him to court for as long as he is afforded due process. As a public servant, he said, he is also a good soldier, who does not run away from a good fight, adding that for as long as the move to indict him for any infraction real or imagined, the same should be made in the most impartial, fair and objective manner. Asked of his thought at this time that being a GMA associate is no longer fashionable, the young legislator chose to tread the path of least resistance.

In elaboration of this tack, Yap said he chose to remain “neither here nor there”. Reading between the lines, Yap seemed to deliver the message that he’d rather not side with any political party for the moment. As an independent solon, Yap showed his true color when the political squabble of Cong. Edcel Lagman and Cong. Danilo Suarez erupted vis-à-vis the leadership of the House minority. He said both aspirants to the minority leadership courted his lone vote in their respective signature campaigns to clinch the coveted position but the Bohol solon chose to remain neutral. At least without casting his lot to any of the protagonist, he said, he remained a friend of both as nobody was hurt when he stayed neutral when his voted was wooed. With Yap parading his wares as an independent, it will be open sesame for this greenhorn lawmaker when the next elections comes. Up for reelection, Yap is slowly building up political alliances in the district he represents by making himself visible in practically all nooks and crannies of his turf.