Arthur C. Yap

Yap was born on November 10, 1965, in Manila."[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2HP-H4JH Philippines, Manila, Civil Registration, 1899-1984]," database with images, FamilySearch (11 November 2017), Arthur Cua Yap, 10 Nov 1965; Birth, 10 Nov 1965, City of Manila Civil Registrar, Philippines; FHL microfilm 1,682,048. He is the eldest among the three children of Domingo Yap and Natividad Cua. His father was born in Jolo, Sulu and is of Chinese-Tausug descent while his mother, also with Chinese ancestry, was from Dagupan, Pangasinan.{{Cite news|url=http://www.discoverbohol.com/bsp/2013/0324-13/One-0324-13.htm|title=Walking the Talk (First of 2 Parts)|last=Palapos|first=Loy|date=March 24, 2013|work=Bohol Sunday Post|access-date=July 9, 2019}}

For his elementary and high school education, Yap studied at Xavier School from 1973 to 1983. He went to Ateneo de Manila University for college and graduated in 1987 with a degree in management economics. He was a dean’s lister during this time and had Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as his economics professor. He was also a student leader in high school and college, and was present at EDSA during the People Power Revolution. He went to the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law for his Juris Doctor's degree and was admitted to the bar in 1992.

While studying, Yap was recruited by a professor to join the Balane, Barican, Cruz, Alampay Law Office. He worked there for about two years. After being admitted to the bar, he was recommended by Fr. Joaquin Bernas to join the law office of former Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna. Because of that, he became an associate lawyer of the Azcuna, Yorac, Sarmiento, Arroyo, Cua Law Office.

In the late 1990s, Yap co-founded a law office with Paulino Ejercito and Karlo Butiong.{{Cite web |title=Ex-Manila councilor dies |url=https://www.philstar.com/metro/2001/09/04/132523/ex-manila-councilor-dies |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=Philstar.com}} The latter served as the external corporate counsel for DHY Realty and Development Inc., a family-owned corporation in which Yap and his father held the positions of vice president and president, respectively. This company became the subject of a tax evasion complaint filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, alleging actions dating back to 1997. However, this complaint was subsequently dismissed by the Department of Justice in October 2005.{{Cite web |last=Clapano |first=Jose Rodel |title=DOJ junks tax evasion raps against former agriculture chief |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2005/10/13/301558/doj-junks-tax-evasion-raps-against-former-agriculture-chief |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=Philstar.com}}

Yap first entered government service in August 2001 as president and CEO of the Philippine International Trading Corporation under the Department of Trade and Industry. Thereafter, he served as the administrator of the National Food Authority for two years and as Agriculture Undersecretary for Luzon Operations, after which was a brief stint as the Secretary of Agriculture. He was one of the youngest to be appointed to the Cabinet of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He was also designated as the Development Champion for the North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle (NLAQ). He then left the post in July 2005 to give way to Domingo Panganiban.

In December 2005, he became Presidential Adviser for Job Creation. He then became the 15th Director General of the Presidential Management Staff, the fifth post he had been designated to in the Arroyo administration. He was appointed again as Agriculture Secretary in October 2006, serving until his resignation in February 2010 to run as a member of the House of Representatives.

From 2010 to 2019, Yap was a congressman representing the third district of Bohol. While there, he held various positions such as being assistant minority leader of the Committee on Rules,{{Cite web|url=http://www.congress.gov.ph/members/search.php?congress=15&id=yap-a|title=Yap, Arthur C.|website=House of Representatives of the Philippines (15th Congress)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709013638/http://www.congress.gov.ph/members/search.php?congress=15&id=yap-a|archive-date=July 9, 2011|access-date=July 9, 2019|url-status=live}} vice-chairman of the Committees on Globalization And WTO,{{Cite web|url=http://www.congress.gov.ph/members/search.php?id=yap-a|title=Hon. Yap, Arthur C.|website=House of Representatives of the Philippines|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160712162552/http://www.congress.gov.ph/members/search.php?id=yap-a|archive-date=July 12, 2016|access-date=July 9, 2019|url-status=live}} Government Enterprises And Privatization, and Ecology,{{Cite web|url=http://congress.gov.ph/members/search.php?id=yap-a&pg=commem|title=Hon. Yap, Arthur C.|website=House of Representatives of the Philippines (17th Congress)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916140016/http://congress.gov.ph/members/search.php?id=yap-a&pg=commem|archive-date=September 16, 2017|access-date=July 9, 2019|url-status=live}} chairman of the Committees on Reforestation and Economic Affairs, and being the deputy speaker from 2018 to 2019.{{Cite news|url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1044999|title=House installs Yap, Pichay as new deputy speakers|last=Cervantes|first=Filane Mikee|date=August 15, 2018|work=Philippine News Agency|access-date=July 9, 2019}}

During the 2019 Philippine gubernatorial elections, Yap ran for governor of Bohol under PDP–Laban, the party of President Rodrigo Duterte. His opponents included former Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco. Yap won by a slim margin of 2,161 votes garnering 326,895 votes against Evasco’s 324,734.{{Cite news|url=http://www.boholchronicle.com.ph/2019/06/30/evasco-files-poll-protest-challenges-results-in-6-towns/|title=Evasco files poll protest, challenges results in 6 towns|last=Visarra|first=Chito M.|date=June 30, 2019|work=The Bohol Chronicle|access-date=July 9, 2019}} He took his oath on June 30, 2019, officially becoming Bohol's 26th governor.{{Cite news|url=http://www.boholchronicle.com.ph/2019/06/30/art-yap-takes-oath-as-bohols-26th-governor/|title=Art Yap takes oath as Bohol’s 26th governor|date=June 30, 2019|work=The Bohol Chronicle|access-date=June 9, 2019}}

Yap, with only 283,903 lost to Erico Aristotle Aumentado who garnered 469,736 in the 2022 Bohol local elections.{{cite news |last1= |first1= |title=Gov. Yap loses bid for 2nd term in Bohol, to quit local politics |url=https://www.bworldonline.com/the-nation/2022/05/10/447603/gov-yap-loses-bid-for-2nd-term-in-bohol-to-quit-local-politics/#google_vignette |accessdate=May 19, 2024 |publisher=BusinessWorld |date=May 20, 2022}}

In a January 18, 2023 14-page SC Third Division Decision, Justice Japar Dimaampao ordered the dismissal of Philippine Rice Research Institute car plan charges against Yap based on violation of his speedy trial rights.{{cite news |last1=Navallo |first1= Mike|title=SC acquits ex-Agri chief Yap of graft charges|url= https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/05/23/sc-acquits-ex-agri-chief-arthur-yap-of-graft-charges|accessdate=May 19, 2024 |publisher=ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs |date=April 5, 2023}}

The Supreme Court’s Third Division, in a 29-page April 15, 2024 Judgment granted Yap's Petition for review on Certiorari against the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division ruling. He was acquitted of alleged two counts of graft and misuse of congressional 2007 to 2009 pork barrel.{{cite news |last1=Bautista |first1= Jane |title=SC clears ex-Agri chief Arthur Yap in pork barrel case|url= https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1942087/sc-clears-ex-agri-chief-arthur-yap-in-pork-barrel-case|accessdate=May 19, 2024 |publisher= Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=May 19, 2024}}

Yap is married to Carolyne Varquez-Gow, a native of Loboc, Bohol. Together they have 2 children. He speaks Tagalog, English and Cebuano (both Standard and Boholano dialect).{{Cite web |title=Tubag sa mga pangutana kabahin sa sardinas nga kunohay atong gipanghatag sa atong mga relief goods nga adunay ngalan nako. {{!}} By Art Yap {{!}} Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/artcyap/videos/tubag-sa-mga-pangutana-kabahin-sa-sardinas-nga-kunohay-atong-gipanghatag-sa-aton/644480470308698/ |access-date=2023-10-23 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}}

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{{Order of Lakandula recipients}}

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Category:1965 births

Category:Living people

Category:Governors of Bohol

Category:Members of the House of Representatives of the Philippines from Bohol

Category:Secretaries of agriculture of the Philippines

Category:Advisers to the president of the Philippines

Category:Heads of the Presidential Management Staff of the Philippines

Category:Lakas–CMD politicians

Category:Partido Demokratiko Pilipino politicians

Category:Ateneo de Manila University alumni

Category:Arroyo administration cabinet members

Category:Filipino politicians of Chinese descent

Category:Deputy speakers of the House of Representatives of the Philippines

Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of Lakandula