Ombudsman sets hearing on alleged rape case filed against ex-governor

CEBU CITY — The Office of the Ombudsman for the Visayas (OMV) has set the preliminary hearing of the alleged rape and administrative charges filed against a former governor of Southern Leyte.

In a two-page notice dated July 29, 2019, the OMV summoned former Southern Leyte Governor Christopherson M. Yap to appear during the preliminary hearing set on Aug. 28 in connection with their investigation of an alleged rape of a 17-yer-old girl and for an administrative case for Grave Misconduct.

Yap, who is no longer in public office, is a businessman from Sogod town who was elected vice-governor, but was installed as governor in August 2017 when the Ombudsman dismissed then Governor Damian Mercado for alleged graft.

The complainant was supported in filing the case by the Crusade Against Violence Visayas (CAVV) led by Thelma Chiong, a mother who lost her two daughters to kidnapping and rape. Because of the said incident, Ms. Chiong made it her lifetime advocacy and commitment to help abuse and rape victims.

In her complaint filed before provincial prosecutor Efren Mendoza, the girl alleged that the rape happened in November 2016, when Yap was still vice-governor.