LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, March 28 – Benguet Caretaker Congressman and Anti-Crime and Terrorism Through Community Involvement and Support (AC-CIS) Party list Rep. Eric Go Yap wholeheartedly accepted the sincerest apology issued by the health department for the alleged encoding error that was committed by an augmentation personnel of the Research Institute of tropical Medicine (RITM) that resulted to his being initially positive of the Corona virus Disease (COVID) 2019 instead of testing negative of the deadly virus.
“The past forty eight hours has been very hard for me and to everyone around me. Hindi naging madali ito pero buong puso kong tinatanggap ang public apology ng DOH-RITM. No less than Dr. Carlos called me up to explain what happened. Niintindihan ko, they are the busiest medical facility in the country right now. It’s not an excuse pero normal na nagkakaroon ng pagkakamali sa dami sa pressure na tinatanggap ng RITM ngayon,” Yap stated in his statement that was circulated to the media late Friday night.
However, he pointed out that his negative COVID-19 test result will not be a cause for celebration on his part because there are millions of Filipinos that have been heavily impacted by the present crisis who deserve to be extended the needed assistance for them to survive the threats of the contagious virus.
The lawmaker underscored that he will not harbor hard feelings towards anybody and he called on every Filipino to stay home and keep safe from the wrath of the virus.
He claimed that what happened to his test result was simply a clerical error and should not be taken against RITM as they were not the ones who committed the mistake in processing his swab samples, the institute did not commit any mistake in the reading of the results among others.
“I thank God for this news but let us not keep our guards down. Sama-sama pa din nating sugpuin ang COVID-19,” Yap stressed.
He asserted that he has no time to file cases against those responsible for the encoding error but instead, he will spend his precious time to help the people who are in need of assistance during these trying times.
Officers of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Benguet chapter expressed their sigh of relief upon learning that Congressman Yap actually tested negative for the deadly virus as they also expressed their support to his decision not to file cases against those responsible for the clerical errors. LMP-Bengue chapter secretary-General and Mankayan Mayor Frenzel A. Ayong emphasized that Congressman Yap just showed the remarkable characteristics of a sincere and dedicate public servant worth of emulation by young and upcoming leaders of the country.
Ayong stated that the Grand Architect of the Universe was able to work wonders for Congressman Yap since the Filipino people, especially the people from Benguet, need his services as the province’s caretaker congressman to contribute in the efforts of the government to work out the growth and development of Benguet into one of the country’s food basket as it is the source of more than 8 percent of the supply of highland vegetables being circulated nationwide.
By Dexter A. See
