Nicanor Briones admits watching 'e-sabong' during House session: 'May nag-message lang sa 'kin'
AGAP Rep. Nicanor Briones admitted that he was the lawmaker who was caught watching an e-sabong match on his phone during the opening of the 20th Congress on July 28.
In a press conference, Briones apologized for the act but clarified that he was not personally engaging in the online cockfight gambling. He said that the video was only sent to him.
"Sa totoo lang, may nag message sa'kin sa Messenger. So, tinignan ko lang naman. Hindi ko naman akalain na meron palang magkukuha ng aking mga private messages. Nagulat na lang ako, dahil alam ko naman merong hindi dapat tinitignan. Pero okay lang 'yon, dahil malinis naman konsensya ko, 'di ako nagsasabong. 'Di mo ako makikita sa sabungan," he said.
He stressed that claims about him transferring money online were "fake news," adding that he doesn't have any e-wallet accounts because he is "old school."
"Para bang pinalalabas nila na wala akong ginagawa... ang haba ng botohan, meron lang nag-message lang sa'kin na gusto mag-invite ng traditional na sabong," he said, adding that he is not interested.
He said that he has forgiven the person who took his video and spread what he called "fake news," but warned them not to do it again.
"Kung sinuman ang gumawa sa akin no'n, sino nag video, gumawa ng fake news na ako'y nanonood o nag-e-sabong, hindi ko alam kung ano ang iyong motibo, pero tapos na ito. Pinaliwanag ko na 'yung parte ko. Kung ano man yung motibo mo, pinatatawad na kita. Akin lamang masasabi, 'wag mo nang uulitin dahil baka sa susunod eh makulong ka na," he said.
"Nahihiya ako kay Speaker [Martin Romualdez], parang nababahiran nang hindi magandang image ang Kongreso, kaya ako humarap... Ako naman ay humihingi ng pasensya," he added.
Earlier this week, Briones was widely criticized when he was spotted watching an online cockfighting session during the voting session for the next House Speaker.
His identity wasn't confirmed at the time, as his back was turned from the camera.
A closer shot showed a match with the text, "1st Fight Left Side" and "2nd Fight Right Side."
Meanwhile, lawmakers have raised concerns about the proliferation of online gambling in the country, with some seeking stricter laws and others a total ban on all its forms.
