Former basketball player denies Mayor Sotto’s allegation he cursed at frontliner

Former basketball player Roger Yap yesterday denied an allegation made by Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto that he cursed at a  frontliner.

The controversy started when Mayor Sotto claimed in a Facebook live stream on Tuesday that a former teammate of his brother-in-law Marc Pingris berated a government employee.

“I’m really angry at those who have a sense of entitlement. That’s too much. Our frontliners are exhausted and [they’re working] over and beyond the call of duty. Then this man would just curse at them?” Sotto said. “I’m just controlling myself from mentioning his name. Marc [Pingris] knows who this person is.”

Read: Annoyed Mayor Sotto tells constituents to listen first before asking questions

Speaking to the unnamed alleged bully, Mayor Sotto said, “You should talk to him (Pingris). He’ll take care of you.”

Sotto did not name the person involved, but Yap spoke to news television show 24 Oras to air his side after he was lambasted by netizens. Yap said he merely told a village official that he should deliver food vouchers, which cost PHP300 (US$6) each, at the doorstep of each Pasig City resident instead of asking the public to line up in the mobile market.

“I told him (official) that what they were doing was wrong. [I said] ‘You were able to go house-to-house during Christmas and recently, so how come you can do that for a PHP300 [voucher]?’ I wasn’t mad. He may have just misinterpreted what I said,” Yap said in English and Filipino.

“He thought I was mad. The problem is, he added more to what really transpired. It was [twisted]. What Mayor ended up hearing was that I threw a tantrum and I cursed at the man,” Yap added.

Yap said he was able to explain what happened to Sotto when Pingris arranged for a meeting between him and the mayor. The mayor has already apologized to him, the former athlete said.

“Our meeting went well, it was OK. He asked for an apology from me but from my side, the damage has already been done,” Yap lamented.

“So to those who have judged me, can you stop [bashing me?]. Don’t bash me because what I said was for everyone’s benefit,” he added.

As of writing, Sotto has yet to issue a statement regarding the controversy surrounding Yap.