BENGUET LAWMAKER SEEKS NBI VS MALICIOUS ATTACKS OVER SOCMED

April 5, 2025 Provincial

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet

Benguet lawmaker Eric Go Yap has sought the National Bureau of Investigation over what he felt were malicious attacks by an individual based abroad over social media. Yap, in his complaint-affidavit said, he is filing a Cyber Libel complaint against the individual for defaming him in her several social media posts, particularly over at Facebook. “It is no longer an exercise of freedom of expression. That
person has been making defamatory remarks and malicious statements. Enough is enough,” the Benguet lawmaker said. “Hindi naman po natin pinapansin pero I came across it at nagulat talaga ako. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, wow sobra naman ito,” he added.

Since he assumed as a caretaker in 2020 and eventually becoming a full time representative of Benguet in 2022, Yap said he nas been on
the receiving end of several accusations including derogatory remarks in several social media platforms. Though, he has ignored all the
allegations and invectives hurled against him, he added. But Yap, in his formal complaint this time stressed that the continuous online
attacks have not only tarnished his reputation but also misled the public with false accusations. “Mahaba ang pasensya ko sa ganyan, tanggap ko na ang style nila is negative campaigning. Pero there should still be a line that we do not cross, yung nakakasira na ng pagkatao at kung ano – ano na lang ang binabato. Masakit na for my family, my friends.

Masyadong marumi na. Is this the type of politics na gusto natin mangyari sa Benguet?” Yap blurted out. The Benguet lawmaker emphasized that while he respects freedom of speech, the spread of baseless and damaging allegations must be addressed through legal means. Yap said he also sought the assistance of the NBI to identify other social media pages that have been spreading similar malicious statements against him. The NBI has began investigating and tracing the administrators behind certain Facebook pages that have allegedly engaging in Cyber Libel in an effort to discredit Yap. “This will not be the last, our lawyers are now consolidating a list at nagpatulong na tayo sa NBI Cyber Crime office to identify yung mga nasa likod ng anonymous Facebook pages and troll accounts to hold them accountable sa actions and statements nila. And may lead na daw sila kung sino mga ito, definitely they are paid so kasama sa titignan yan, yung mga nagfi-finance because this is an organized attack on me,” Yap said.

Artemio A. Dumlao/ABN