"On behalf of my family, allow me to say how grateful we are, after having learned yesterday, that the Department of Justice has dismissed the tax evasion complaint, filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, against myself and my father. Months ago, when the BIR filed the complaint with the DoJ, I took the painful and bitter road of voluntary resignation, even as it did not involve my performance as then Agriculture Secretary, since propriety demanded me to do so."

Yap resigned his post as agriculture secretary when the BIR filed criminal complaints against him and his father Domingo Yap for alleged tax evasion.

The Department of Finance (DoF)-BIR Operation: RATE (Run After Tax Evaders) accused the Yaps for their alleged failure to file withholding correct tax returns for the taxable years 1997 to 1999 as officers of DHY Realty and Development.

The former DA secretary, upon learning of the charge, which he lamented first came out from news reports, did not deny his family’s involvement in the said company but clarified that he has long divested himself "of any ownership, interest or position in this corporation and our family-owned business."

"I did this (divest) when I joined the government, and that is adequately reflected in our documents submitted to the government agencies showing my complete divestment from these interests."

A few days later, he quit his post and was replaced by Domingo Panganiban. "The poisonous air of political divisiveness would not have allowed due process to take its course while I stayed to serve at my post. Instead, I chose to remain silent and placed my trust in God and confidence in our justice system."

But while expressing his gratitude to faith and the DoJ, Yap chided the BIR for the way it handled the case against him.

"Even as our defense was sustained by the DoJ, allow me to state that we find common cause with the BIR in the belief that all citizens must support the State’s inherent right to collect taxes."