Filpino musician and activist Jim Paredes has owned up to a sexually explicit viral video and apologized for his “irresponsibility” in a blog shared on his Twitter account today.

“The video was real,” he wrote, saying that the video was private and not meant for public consumption. In it, he appears to be masturbating.

Paredes is an icon in the Philippine music industry as part of the musical trio the APO Hiking Society. APO was popular in the 70s and 80s and helped champion OPM (Original Pilipino Music). The group is also known for its activism, especially during the EDSA People Power Revolution of 1986 that led the ousting of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Paredes continues to be an influential activist today and has spoken out against the Duterte administration several times. In his blog post, he theorized that the video controversy was brought by “toxic politics.”

“I can only surmise that in this ugly season of toxic politics, muckrakers determined to neutralize my influence by violating my privacy and digging up dirt on me are at work,” he said.

The musician initially denied that it was him in the video and said it was “fake” when netizens asked him about it on Twitter. Paredes is an active tweeter and uses the platform to share opinions on current events but his account has been set to private as of this article’s posting.

He said in his blog that he eventually decided to admit to the video because he did not want to add to the lies in the world.

“I am a flawed person, a human being, much like everyone else. I made a mistake, I was irresponsible. And I am truly sorry,” he said.

Paredes apologized to his supporters and his family who he said are also suffering because of the controversy.

“I stand in bottomless sorrow and contrition before my family who are (sic) reeling from the hurt and aggravation, and the embarrassment and shame, that should only be mine. I pray that they be (sic) spared [from] any more wicked trolling by those who would revel in their pain,” he said.

Read his full statement here.

This article, Musician, activist Jim Paredes admits it’s him in sexually explicit viral video, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters!