Following the viral photo of a lawmaker watching an e-sabong match on his phone, Representative Nicanor Briones of the Agriculture Sector Alliance of the Philippines (AGAP Party-list) confirmed that he is the person in the circulating photo.
In an interview on the DZRH Balansyado program, Rep. Briones mentioned that he does not know who took the photo, but he is sure that it came from the person who was sitting behind him.
“Naniniwala akong taga-media rin ang gumawa non. Sana wag na mangyari dahil siguro baka maghigpit, hindi pwede yung kahit na sino kukuhaan,” the lawmaker said.
When asked if he would consider filing a case, Briones did not respond directly. Instead, he expressed his decision to forgive the individual responsible.
'MALINIS ANG KONSENSYA KO'
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PAKINGGAN: Iginiit ni Cong. Briones na hindi siya sumasali sa online sabong at tinignan niya lang ang mensahe ng kanyang pamangkin. | RH 12 @milkyrigonan, DZRH News pic.twitter.com/eRyUBV9pmP
“Kung medyo nahihiya sa akin, sa institusyon, pwede siyang lumantad at humingi ng paumanhin, pero sabi ko nga pinatatawad ko na siya,” he said.
"Napakalaki ng respeto ko sa mga taga-midya… Kaya hindi naman ako ano para awayin kung sino ang nagkamali, tao rin naman ‘yan,” he added.
Briones also emphasized that he has no interest in cockfighting, asserting that he has never been to a cockfighting arena and has not participated in online sabong due to his unfamiliarity with payment methods and online transactions.
