Newly released photos and video of AGAP Rep. Nicanor Briones allegedly found him watching cockfighting during a session at the House of Representatives, last Monday.
Briones acknowledged the act, but claimed to have been invited to watch the online sabong.
He also claimed that he did not place any bets on the cockfight.
"Para bang pinalalabas nila na wala akong ginagawa... ang haba ng botohan, may nag-message lang sa'kin," he said.
"Nahihiya ako kay Speaker (Romualdez), parang nababahiran ng hindi magandang image ang Kongreso, kaya ako humarap... Ako naman ay humihingi ng pasensya," he added.
Several congressmen have also voiced their sentiments to the act.
House Committee on Public Order and Safety Chairperson Rep. Rolando Valeriano, urged the solon to come out and apologize.
“Dapat come out na siya, lumabas na siya at aminin niya, at humingi na lang ng dispensa. Tutal, malamang pinagsisisihan niya na ito sa mga oras na ito,” he said.
“Siguro wala sa timing, wala sa tamang lugar at sana hindi nangyari… Baka hindi naman talagang games ‘yun… Hindi ko pa siya napapanood eh. We'll look into that… Sana hindi nangyari yun at sana huwag na maulit,” Valeriano added.
He said it was up to the House Ethics Committee whether to investigate this matter.
Meanwhile, the members of the Makabayan bloc have also shared their statements on the act, believing that the House should look after the incident.
“Bahala na ‘yung leadership na matiyak na mangyari ito… Kredibilidad ng institusyon ang nakatayari ito. As to sanctions, well, let's see. Kanina may mga tanong. Ano ba yun? Video ba yun? Of course, lahat ito spekulasyon. So, kailangan din talaga ma-establish ‘yung facts. At pinakamainam kung magkaroon na ng paliwanag mula sa kinauukulan. Para masara na ‘yung usapin. At whether may sanction or whether an apology will suffice, at least malinaw. Pero the point is, tama lang at dapat mabigyan ng paliwanag ang publiko,” ACT Teachers Party List Representative Antonio Tinio said.
“Unfortunate na may ganoong pangyayari. Mataas ang expectation at dapat lang ng mamamayan sa mga kongresista bilang mga public servants. So, dapat hindi mangyari yung ganun…We should expect, dapat i-apply yung rules. As to whether may illegal activity na naganap o somehow involved, kasama dapat ‘yun sa i-consider ng House sa mga aksyon na gagawin sa mga kasamahan,” he added.
“Ang maganda siguro ay magkaroon ng karampatang aksyon… Sa bahagi ng House ay magkaroon ng probing kung ano po ba talaga ang nangyari, and then kung ano man yung rules that have to be adopted in relation to sa nangyari, eh 'di gawin siya sa pinakakagyat,” Kabataan Party List Representative Renee Co also said.
On the other hand, Labor Leader Jerome Adonis have expressed disappointment to over the act, calling for accountability.
“Sa point ng taxpayer, kaming mga manggagawa, nagpapasweldo ng mga government official, alam n’yo, nakakadismaya talaga” Adonis said.
“Itong congressman na to, kung sino man siya… kinakaladkad niya talaga sa kahihiyan ‘yung buong institusyon. Nakikita ng publiko na ‘yung mga pinapasweldo pala nating mga ilang kinatawan, eh ganoon ka kawalang-pagpapahalaga doon sa sesyon…Challenge ito sa leadership ng house kung paano niya bibigyan ng malinaw at kongkretong aksyon yung nangyari po sa session nila," he added.
"Question of delicadeza," is what 1TAHANAN Party List Representative Nathaniel Oducado said over the incident.
“Wala naman sa rules, pero I think it's a question of delicadeza…We protect the institution and we will still show them na kahit may ganoong a few congressman, I'm not sure kung ano ginagawa niya specifically, but mapapakita namin na mas maraming congressman na gumagawa ng trabaho talaga…I give the wisdom to the leadership and I think they will impose proper sanctions,” Oducado stated.
