Richard Yap defends celebs joining politics: A lot of artists have the brains
Richard Yap. Image: YouTube/GMA Network
Richard Yap deemed it “unfair” to attribute “political bankruptcy” to celebrities running for public office, with the actor arguing that some artists are capable of being efficient public servants.
Yap, who ran for congressional seat twice in 2019 and 2022 but lost both his bids, said this after he was interviewed about politics on “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” last Thursday, April 10.
Show host Abunda brought up the notion that “what’s causing political bankruptcy ay ang pagpasok ng mga artista sa politika,” which was the subject of a column he recently wrote.
When Yap was asked to comment on this, the actor said, “I think that’s unfair because there are a lot of artists who have the brains to be able to be in politics, to be in public service.”
“It’s just that you are basing your — that statement is based on a certain percentage of people who are there in power and sinasabi nila [na] gano’n na lahat,” he added, noting how such a remark is a “generalization.”
“It’s unfair for a lot of us,” he stressed.
Abunda acknowledged Yap’s sentiment and likewise stood against those “belittling” celebrities who are entering politics.
“Ang mga artista ay mga mamamayan… Amyendahan niyo ang batas because the constitution allows everybody who is qualified to run for public office,” Abunda said.
During the show’s Fast Talk segment, Yap seemingly hinted that he is not closing his doors to politics as he answered “depende” when asked if he would try to seek a public post again.
