Congressional candidate denies using trolls to attack opponents

Bohol First District Congressional candidate John Geesnall "Baba" Yap has denied allegations that he employs trolls to launch scathing attacks on his political opponents, saying his focus is on bringing more infrastructure projects to his district.

In a radio interview, Yap vowed to steer clear of mudslinging, a common practice in Philippine politics, and instead maintain an issue-based campaign.

Yap’s denial comes amid insinuations that he has been using trolls to attack his opponents, particularly on social media. However, he has distanced himself from such tactics, saying his camp is focused solely on spreading his message.

The candidate’s statement is seen as an attempt to rise above the often-negative tone of Philippine politics, where personal attacks and smear campaigns are common.

Separately, Yap also addressed allegations of corruption filed against his wife, Jane, by his uncle, Dan Neri Lim, before the Ombudsman.

Yap said his camp has not received any word on the cases and will address the issue if and when they receive notice from the Ombudsman.

Yap’s denial of using trolls and his commitment to a clean campaign come as Bohol gears up for 2025 elections, with many candidates facing scrutiny over their tactics and records.