John Geesnell “Baba” Yap
Former Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell
“Baba” Yap denied the allegations of an unnamed
former mayor that the former was planning to run
for first district congressman.
Baba Yap, the current chief of staff of Mayor Jane
Yap, denied the dyTR news item that he has
confirmed his intentions to run as congressman for
the first district of Bohol.
Baba Yap, affectionately called “Sir Chief”, aired a
statement over Newsmakers ug Uban Pa on Dec.
26, 2023, hosted by The Bohol Tribune’s
managing editor Ardy Araneta-Batoy over dyTR.
Effectively, Baba Yap shot down the news story
aired by dyTR’s morning newscast of Dec. 26,
2023, Ang Kalibutan Karon anchored by Weng
Vallecer.
It was mentioned in the news item that a
movement of people dedicated to the candidacy of
Baba Yap for Congress will meet next year.
“Sa pakgakaron atong gi-concentrate pa gyud ang
pagtrabaho lang sa opisina ni Mayor Jane Yap ug
ni Vice Mayor Adam Jala. Wala pa man ang
istorya sa pamulitika, ma’am Ards, tungod kay
layo-layo man gud pod. Naa pa’y tuig kapin pa
man ang pamolitika. Pero ingon man Ma’am Ards
nag concentrate sa kalamboan sa Tagbilaran City,
ug sa pagtabang sa atong katawhan. So, wa ko
kahibaw, ug wala ko kadunggog sa balita mao nga
dili ko makaingon kung unsa ug kinsa tong balita-a
ma’am Ards. Sumala sa imong gi-ingon nga ni
confirm ko, wala ta magconfirm ana ma’am Ards
tungod kay ang pamulitika layo-layo oa gyud,”
Baba Yap told Araneta-Batoy during the interview.
“Parehas ta nga dili katubag ana, ma’am Ards, kay
wala ta mahibalo kung kinsa nang kanhi mayor,”
Baba Yap added.
“As what I have said, nga ang pamultika layo pa
man gyud kaayo ang panahon. Pero, wa ta
kahibaw kung kinsa ang kanhi mayor [nga misulti
nga mi confirm ko]. Mas maayo ug makabalo ta
ug kinsa ang kanhi mayor, para ma-istorya nato
kun unsa ang tinood nga gisulti [sa kanhi mayor
aron atong subayon],” he quipped.
Yap assures that if ever there are any
developments in his political plans, he will let the
public know through the media.
The dyTR news story said that Baba Yap allegedly
gave word to the unnamed former mayor saying
that the he (Baba Yap) would run for Congress.
Baba Yap has remained silent about his political
plans ever since he stepped down as mayor of
Tagbilaran City.
Observers say that if ever Baba Yap would decide
to run for a political post, he is surely going to have
a huge chance of winning.
The same group of observers noticed that Baba
Yap’s track record as mayor of Tagbilaran City is
nothing but impressive.
Baba Yap was elected to his final term as mayor in
2019 via a landslide. His political charm is also
being brought forward by his wife, Jane, who was
also convincingly elected mayor in 2022.
With Baba Yap’s denial of plans to run for
congress, the expected clash against incumbent
Congressman Edgar Chatto will not happen—for
now.
Aside from rumors of Baba Yap running for
Congress, the former city mayor has also been
rumored to run for governor of Bohol.
There were tarpaulins installed in various areas of
Bohol, indicating that Baba Yap intends to run for
the post of Bohol’s chief executive.
Similarly, Baba Yap has denied having plans to
run for governor.