REP. ELI SAN FERNANDO CLARIFIES IVANA ALAWI REMARKS, SAYS ISSUE IS ONLINE GAMBLING PROMOTION

Kamanggagawa Party-list Representative Eli San Fernando issued a clarification after drawing criticism online following his mention of Ivana Alawi during a budget hearing. The lawmaker said his remarks were not intended to attack the content creator’s charitable activities or efforts to help other people.

San Fernando explained that his concern centered on the promotion of online gambling and its possible impact on Filipino workers and ordinary consumers. He said such promotions could encourage people to risk money they had worked hard to earn, which he identified as the main issue behind his comments during the hearing.

The representative also denied claims suggesting that he benefits financially from similar online promotions. According to San Fernando, his Facebook page has carried no advertisements and has not been monetized since 2024. He further maintained that he would not promote online gambling, framing his statement as a clarification of his position amid the criticism and misinformation he said was circulating online.

📸: Eli San Fernando | FB