Yap accuses city of harassment over concert

CEBU, Philippines — Businessman and actor Richard Yap has accused the Cebu City government of barring him from holding a concert at the IEC Convention Center.

In a press conference yesterday, Yap said employees from City Hall went to the IEC Convention Center last Tuesday and told the management not to allow the concert if the organizers could not secure a special permit.

He said the City Legal Office allegedly threatened to revoke the business permit of IEC if it allowed the concert to push through.

“Ang nakadaot ana ang IEC3 nakuyawan sila nga dili sila ganahan mopadayon kay giadto gyud sila, gipadad-an sila og suwat, unya giadto sila sa taga City Hall. So, clearly, usa ni siya ka case of harassment, dili lang sa mga businessmen nato sa Cebu but also natong mga clients,” Yap said.

 The IEC management gave its go signal for the concert last week.  Yap said the free concert, which is scheduled today, is a reunion of the cast of “Be Careful With My Heart,” the television show that catapulted him to fame.

It is also meant to thank the supporters of Partido Barug, the political group he is affiliated with in his bid for Congress for the city’s North District.

“In the two years nga naa diha ang IEC, never nahitabo na nga mukuha og permit sa morenta sa ilahang lugar. This is a private property. Unless paid concert, mao na ang kinahanglan og permit,” Yap said.

“Ambot lang og ngano nga sige sila og sulti nga kining actors don’t click in Cebu… no one will vote for artistas. Kung artista lang ko, ngano hadlok man kaayo mo? Unsa man ang gikahadlokan ninyo nga mag-show mi?” Yap told his political opponents.

Not Aware

Mayor Tomas Osmeña told The FREEMAN he is not aware of the concert and he did not give any instruction to threaten to revoke the IEC’s business permit.

“That’s ridiculous. Never in the past 30 years have I done that except when there was excessive intoxication during the Sinulog,” Osmeña said.

City Attorney Joseph Bernaldez also said he could not recall signing a letter ordering IEC to bar Yap from holding the concert.

“None to my knowledge… I cannot recall having signed any letter for that matter,” he said.

Concert A Go

Despite the setback, the concert would still reportedly push through today, Yap said.

The venue has not been finalized as of yesterday.

“Ako gihapon sila paanhion. Tan-awn nato og ilaha gihapon pugngan og manganhi ang atoang mga kauban nga artista. That would be a clear case of harassment. Ato na sila paanhion para makit-an sila sa mga tawo, naa mi venue or wala… bahala na… basta magpadayon gihapon mi. Dili mi magpadaog-daog sa ilaha,” he said.

He urged Cebuanos not to vote for the administration bets as revenge.

“Kung kinsa diha ang gidaogdaog, the best revenge for you, ayaw gyud sila botari karong Mayo 13. Kahibaw mo unsa’y gibuhat nila sa inyoha, ayaw kahadlok. It’s time to make your voices be heard. Magpadungog mo, dili ingon nga magpadaog-daog  mo,” he said. —  JMO (FREEMAN)