ACT-CIS Rep. Eric Yap has confirmed that there has been red-tagging against ABS-CBN and its supporters.
During the budget hearing deliberations at the House of Representatives, Yap was quoted saying “Yung mga kumakalat na [red-tagging], hindi lang naman sa Makabayan bloc ‘yan eh, meron din niyan sa Power Rangers, ABS-CBN.”
Appropriations Committee Chair Eric Yap, a Duterte admin ally, tells the panel: 'Yung mga kumakalat na [red-tagging], hindi lang naman sa Makabayan bloc 'yan eh, meron din niyan sa Power Rangers, ABS-CBN. Ang pagtuunan natin ng pansin, kung paano tayo gagaling sa COVID
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) September 10, 2020
Rep. Yap instead tells the youth to refrain from spreading 'hate posts' on Facebook: Mga kabataan, umiwas tayo sa Facebook kung puro galit lang po ang ating ilalagay doon
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) September 10, 2020
Yap incidentally was defending the PCOO after the Makabayan bloc congressmen criticized PCOO Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy for red-tagging its members on social media.
The PCOO and other government agencies have been criticized several times for red-tagging individuals critical of the Duterte administration.
At the height of the ABS-CBN franchise hearings and the growing calls by its supporters to grant the ABS-CBN franchise in May, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict along with other Facebook pages under the PCOO have posted fake claims about the network’s franchise.
Sec @martinandanar, why are PCOO social media pages being used to spread fake news on the ABS-CBN franchise issue? pic.twitter.com/tmbylWHkfK
— Pia Gutierrez (@pia_gutierrez) May 9, 2020
Security cluster cabinet secretaries meanwhile defended the post by NTF-ELCAC saying ABS-CBN and its franchise issue is being used by the leftist to demonize the government.
“The ABS-CBN are on a full court press trying to demonize the government for what happened to them. The [National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTFELCAC)] is an agency of the government. I see nothing wrong with explaining the truth to the Filipino people. It is our duty to counter these propaganda,” Defense Sec. Lorenzana alleged.
“If the left is exploiting the issue, which it is, then NTF-ELCAC must come in and at the least warn and inform the people about the issues,” Natl. Security Adviser Sec. Hermogenes Esperon.
Meanwhile, Yap is one of the 70 congressmen who voted to deny the ABS-CBN franchise.
He also made headlines after claiming that an emissary from ABS-CBN tried to bribe him to vote in favor of the Kapamilya network’s franchise renewal.
He, however, backtracked after getting backlash on social media saying he’s not sure if the emissary was really from ABS-CBN or just someone using ABS-CBN.
Yap is a close friend of Presidential son and Deputy Speaker Paolo Duterte and ally of the President.
