Yap disowns vote buying allegation, focuses on bringing services closer to Benguet constituents

May 2, 2022 Provincial

Benguet Caretaker and ACT-CIS Partylist Congressman Eric Go Yap stressed that his campaign is focused on bringing the services of the national government closer to the people of Benguet and providing help to those in need, and he will never tolerate vote-buying to solicit the support of his constituents.
Yap, who is gunning to be elected as Benguet’s representative this May 9, 2022, national and local elections after serving the province in a caretaker capacity made the statement in response to allegations of vote-buying as part of his campaign which has been circulated in the social media.
He said he is aware of the alleged vote-buying reports on social media, and he considers this a desperate attempt to destroy his image during the campaign.
“I saw sa Facebook na may nagpapamigay ng 500 pesos na may pangalan (ng ating katunggali), may 1,000 pesos na may pangalan ko. Parang ginugulo nila ang eleksyon. For me, parang desperado na sila,” Yap said.
His point, he explained, is to go back to the core or the real purpose of the elections, and this is for the people of Benguet to vote for a candidate who is capable of helping the province improve and be well provided for.
“Bakit tayo boboto ng congressman? Para makaboto tayo ng taong makakatulong sa probinsya. Hindi yung magbibigay ng 500 o 1,000 persos, kung hindi iboboto natin ang tao na talagang tutulong sa probinsya, hindi lang sa araw ng kampanya. Looking at what is being circulated in the social media, parang nabababoy ang eleksyon sa mga ganitong propaganda,” Yap said.
He then appealed to the public, particularly his fellow candidates, to make rounds and focus on providing public service and knowing what the constituents really need.
“Kaya ang pakiusap ko, mag-ikot tayo. Tumulong tayo sa tao, at kung gusto nating manalo, tumulong tayo at pagsilbihan natin ang tao, at dahil dito ang tao ang boboto sa atin. Hindi lang sa Benguet, kundi sa buong Pilipinas, dapat hindi tinotolerate ang vote buying,” he appealed.
Yap added becoming a congressman is never his ambition, but he only wanted to help the province of Benguet.
“Para sa akin, hindi ko naman ambisyon maging congressman, gusto ko lang tumulong sa Benguet. Wala akong nakitang kandidato na gustong magsilbi at tumulong talaga, at lumabas noong wala pang eleksyon. Lahat ng nakita kong kandidato lumabas lang nung eleksyon na,” Yap observed.
He said in fact he is not focused on campaigning to boost his image. “Umiikot ako para iparating ang tulong ng national government at ng Congressman Yap, at upang alamin ang mga pangangailangan nila at magbigay ng pag-asa.”