Eric Yap hits ‘malicious’ report on ‘personal reason’ for calling ABS-CBN probe

ACT-CIS party-list Representative Eric Yap on Wednesday lambasted what he called a "malicious" news report regarding his supposed "personal" reason for seeking an investigation into ABS-CBN's alleged violations of its franchise.

In a privilege speech, Yap hit the story published on Inquirer.net titled "Solon admits ‘personal reason’ in seeking probe into alleged ABS-CBN franchise violations," which was based on his interview with ANC's Headstart earlier in the day.

The report stated that ABS-CBN's allegedly biased coverage of the President's son Deputy Speaker Paolo Duterte's supposed involvement in the illegal drug trade was "among his personal reasons" for filing House Resolution 853, calling for a probe into the network's probable franchise violations

GMA News Online also reported the same story, based on the same interview.

But Yap clarified that he only used Duterte's experience with ABS-CBN's reporting as an example, and it was not his only reason for wanting an investigation.

"Hindi ito personal na galit kaya sinumite ang House Resolution 853. Ang personal sa akin ay ang maging tama ang pagbabalita ng media dahil very powerful ang media," he said.

"Ika nga nila, with great powers come great responsibility. Trabaho ng media na maglahad ng facts at kunin ang lahat ng panig. Hindi ako pro or against ABS-CBN, pero ako ay tumatayo ngayon para sa tamang pagbabalita," he added.

Yap said what was "personal" with him was that lives can be ruined by irresponsible reportage without any attempt to make corrections.

"Bakit naging personal sa akin ito? Ang sinabi ko sa ANC kaya personal ito, hindi yung kay Paolo Duterte. Yun ay halimbawa. Ang personal sa akin ay yung masisira mo ang buhay ng isang tao na ire-report mo ang mali at hindi tama pagkatapos hindi mo na babawiin yun," he said.

"Yun ang personal sa akin kaya ako nag-file ng House Resolution 853 dahil gusto kong matuldukan ang maling practice ng ilang kasamahan natin sa media na basta-basta magre-report ng hindi totoo, allegations, at hindi na itatama," he added.

However, Yap, during the ANC interview, categorically stated the words "personal reason" when asked if Duterte's experience with ABS-CBN's reportage was the basis of his resolution.

During the interview, he recalled the congressional hearings back in 2017 on the smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of illegal drugs into the country in May that year, where former Customs broker Mark Taguba mentioned the younger Duterte's name.

Taguba had said that Duterte, then vice mayor of Davao City, was being "name-dropped" by individuals the broker had previously tagged as receiving P27,000 bribe or "grease money" from him, that is, "Tita Nanie," "Jack," and "Small."

Taguba, however, later said that his knowledge of the latter's alleged involvement with the Davao Group was mere "hearsay."

Yap then claimed that ABS-CBN did not make a follow-up report to correct what Taguba said. This, he said, caused people to think that Duterte indeed was involved in the mess.

Headstart host Karen Davila then asked Yap: "Ito po ba ang dahilan kung bakit isinampa ni Ginoong Paolo Duterte ang resolusyon na yun?" to which Yap replied, "Siya [Duterte] hindi, [pero] ako, 'yun ang dahilan."

"Kung sa tingin ko naman totoo 'yung mga sinasabi against him, hindi naman siguro ako magiging kaibigan niya," he said.

"So matagal ko nang kilala ang tao, doon ko lang nakita na ang tao pala, kahit gaano ka kabait, basta mabasa ka lang sa news na ganito, kahit hindi totoo, maniniwala ang ibang tao," he added.

Yap also said: "Yun lang 'yung sa akin,' yung personal reason ko. Pero 'yung sa kanya, never ko siyang tinanong. Kaya nga sabi ko, 'yung tao mabait na tao, maayos na tao. Never siyang nagsasalita ng kung anong hindi magaganda."

During his speech, Yap urged reporters to be more straightforward in their headlines.

"Bakit ba ang headline, parating dapat nating isipin kung ano yung medyo may malisya, kung ano yung mapapalingon ang tao kapag binasa? Bakit ba dapat kontrobersyal ang headline? Bakit ba hindi tayo magbalita ng maganda at tama?" he said.

"Sa bawat maling pagbabalita, buhay ng tao ang nasisira, hindi lang ng iisang tao kundi ng mga mahal nila sa buhay, ng mga taong naniniwala sa kanila, at ng mga kaibigan nila. Panahon na upang itama natin ang pagbabalita," he added. — BM, GMA News