BENGUET caretaker and ACT-CIS Partylist Representative Eric Go Yap denied on Thursday, August 6, a social media post stating frontliners are allowing themselves to be used to destabilize the government.
Yap earlier drew flak from netizens after a social media post went viral, claiming medical frontliners are being used as a front to destabilize and discredit the government's effort against Covid-19.
"Mga frontliner, nagpapagamit para pabagsakin ang gobyerno," the post attributed to Yap read.
Yap claimed the post is fake.
Yap explained his previous statement was made in the context of some people taking advantage of Covid issues for their own political interest.
"Nowhere in that statement that I said anything about our medical frontline willingly allowing themselves to be used for others political agenda. In fact, I acknowledged their efforts and briefly mentioned about the concrete actions that the government is taking on right now," Yap added.
Yap, in a social media video, also called the attention of the person who allegedly posted the statements on social media.
"Mayroon pong post si Jefferson Cosalan ang sinasabi niya po boss, ang boss po niya ay si Congressman Ronnie Cosalan just in case na gusto niyang tumakbo sa Benguet sa darating na election di niya kailangan mangampanya at siya po ay mananalo na, Mr. Jefferson Cosalan nakakalungkot po kung ito po ay gagamitin niyo sa pagkampanya sa inyo na po ang congressional seat. Hindi ko po kailangan ng congressional seat para sa 2022," he added.
Former three-term Benguet congressman and lawyer Ronald Cosalan in a separate statement in turn, called on Yap to be more cautious with the issue.
"It has come to my attention that Rep. Eric Yap of ACT-CIS Partylist and presently the caretaker of the Lone District of Benguet has dragged my name in a video he posted in his FB page regarding a post by Jefferson Cosalan. I humbly request Rep. Yap to be more circumspect in dealing with the issue," Cosalan said.
The former lawmaker confirmed that Jefferson Cosalan, the person Yap has an issue with, is a relative but clarified he was never an employee when he was the incumbent representative of Benguet.
Yap, in a new video, said he has reached out to former congressman Cosalan and apologized.