Briones to cooperate in ethics probe after watching e-sabong

AGAP Party-list Rep Nicanor Briones, who was caught watching a video of sabong on his cellphone during Monday's session, said he is willing to face an investigation of the House Committee on Ethics.

"Kung sa tingin nila ay dapat imbestigahan eh haharap tayo doon dahil wala naman tayong tinatago. Malinis konsensya natin," Briones said in an interview.

(If they think it should be investigated, we will face it because we have nothing to hide. Our conscience is clear.)

"Kung anuman ang kanilang gusto ay pinapaubaya ko na sa Diyos ang kapalaran natin," he added.

(Whatever they want, I leave our fate to God.)

But Briones says it was unfair that he was accused of watching e-sabong.

Briones had earlier explained that he merely opened a video sent by a relative who was inviting him to sponsor a cockfight derby.

"Medyo hindi, parang hindi makatarungan. Hahaha! Pero wala naman akong magagawa," Briones said.

(Not really, it seems unfair. Hahaha! But there's nothing I can do.)

"Dahil hindi naman totoo yung paratang sa atin na tayo nagsusugal doon sa habang nagbobotohan kay Speaker. Hindi naman tayo binigyan ng pagkakataon na tanungin. Medyo unfair na nagkaroon ng ganyang napakalaking issue," he added.

(Because the accusation that we gambled while voting for the Speaker is not true. We were not given the opportunity to answer their questions. It is a bit unfair that such a huge issue arose.)

Briones, however, declined to comment when asked about news reports that he possibly lost his election to the Commission on Appointments because of the controversy.

Due process

The newly-appointed chairperson of the House Committee on Ethics today assured that the committee will not ignore the incident involving Briones.

Ethics chairperson Rep JC Abalos of 4Ps Party-list said due process will be observed.

Both Briones and Abalos are part of the minority bloc in the House of Representatives.

"I would like to let everyone know na hindi po natin binabalewala o babalewalain ang insidenting ito. I want everyone to expect, asahan niyo po na tutuparin ng Committee on Ethics ang aming tungkulin. And we will make sure that we will abide by the proper process before coming up with a decision on matters. Dahil yun po ang ethical at kami po ang Committee on Ethics. We can't afford to right a wrong with another wrong," Abalos said in an online interview.

"Dito po sa Committee on Ethics, meron po tayong tamang proseso, mekanismo, and standards na susundin when it comes to disciplining our members. Kung may pagkakamali po, meron po tayong tamang paraan ng pagwawasto," he added.

When asked if the committee will conduct a motu proprio investigation or if it will wait for a formal complaint to be filed, Abalos said he will wait for the committee to be convened first.

"Kaka-appoint ko lamang bilang Committee on Ethics chairman last Wednesday. Wala pa pong ibang members sa committee na naa-appoint. We are still awaiting on that. Hindi pa po tayo nakakapag-adopt ng ating rules but we will fulfill our job to the best that we can once the committee has convened and has adopted its rules," Abalos explained.

Abalos, however, could not confirm reports that Briones lost his possible election to the Commission on Appointments because of this incident.

"I have no knowledge on that matter and as chairman of the Committee on Ethics, I would have to decide based on facts at the proper forum," he said.

"To my knowledge, wala pa pong naa-appoint na member ng minority bloc sa Commission on Appointments," he added.

He also assured the public that his committee expects proper decorum from lawmakers at all times, whether or not they are inside the session hall.

"To the general public, gusto kong ipaalam sa inyo na kakampi nyo po kami, kakampi nyo po ang Committee on Ethics sa pagde-demand ng public accountability and proper decorum from our lawmakers, not only when they are in the plenary, pati na rin kapag sa labas ng Kamara," Abalos said.

"Public property po kami at may responsibilidad po kami managot sa aming mga actions," he added.

Abalos said he is also proposing reforms, including the creation of an independent body that will receive complaints against members of the House of Representatives.

"This is similar to what they have in the United States kung saan merong independent na tanggapan that would process complaints whenever an ethical violation by any lawmaker would occur. Ipo-process niya ito and they would make recommendations to the Committee on Ethics as to what action should be taken. Magkakaroon din ng transparency reports," Abalos explained.

"And this independent body, it will be non-political, it will be non-partisan and we will assure that it will be composed of members that are not related within the fourth civil degree of co-sanguinity to any lawmaker. Ito ay isa po ito sa aking mga plano to innovate and to further strengthen our Committee on Ethics in the upcoming Congress," he added. — BAP, GMA Integrated News