AGAP solon admits watching video during session, denies betting on e-sabong

AGAP Partylist Rep. Nicanor Briones has admitted to being the House member who was caught on video watching a cockfight on his cellphone during the House session on Monday.

However,  Briones denied that the video was e-sabong – an online gambling platform featuring cockfights.

"Malinis ang konsensiya ko. Hindi naman ako nagsasabong. Ako, hindi mo ako makikita sa kahit sa sabungan. At fake news. Online sabong sinasabi. Ni wala akong G-Cash. Ni wala akong money transfer na online," Briones told reporters in an interview.

Briones said the video was part of a message from a relative, who invited him to sponsor a cockfight derby.

With the video going viral, Briones said he would no longer accept the invitation. He also plans to file a bill pushing for a total ban on online gambling.

"Hindi totoo. Kaya nga ako fake news eh. Eh kaya ako humarap sa inyo, ayokong madamay ang kongreso. Dahil para bang pinalabas nila, wala akong ginagawa. Kundi ang haba ng botohan. Meron lang nag-message sa akin, yung pamangking ko na gustong mag-invite ng traditional na sabong na gusto ako lumaban," Briones said.

"Hindi rin naman ako interesado, hindi rin naman ako nagsasabong. So siguro ako, andun na ko rito. May gustong sumabotahe sa atin dahil tayo maraming nakakabangga. Ang aking number one nilalabanan, mga smuggler," he added.

Briones apologized to the House of Representatives and the public for the controversy. He said he also forgave those who took his video without his consent, which he said was a violation of the Data Privacy Act.

"Nagso-sorry ako dahil doon sa pagkakasagot ko doon sa messenger ay nadadamay ang institusyon kahit sa publiko, kahit sa institusyon dito sa Kongreso na nadadamay," Briones said.

"Kung sinuman ang gumawa sa akin noon, sinong nag-video, gumawa ng fake news na ako'y nanonood o nago-online sabong, hindi ko alam ang iyong motibo. Pero tapos na ito. Pinaliwanag ko lang 'yung parte ko. Kung anuman ang motibo mo, pinatatawad na kita. Ang akin lang, 'wag mo na uulitin kasi baka sa susunod, makulong ka na," he added. –NB, GMA Integrated News