'Beast mode' driver in hot water over viral video

MANILA, Philippines - A driver apologized on Monday for a video showing him driving in Metro Manila on "beast mode" which earned him criticisms from netizens over the weekend.

The driver, identified as Tito Cosejo Jr., issued his apology on his wife's Facebook page after bragging about his supposed driving skills in the viral video, which was first shared by Top Gear Philippines on its Facebook page.

The video showed Cosejo demonstrating how to turn his "beast mode" on while driving by cutting off other cars to get ahead of the traffic flow.

Near the end of the video, Cosejo hit the side mirror of another vehicle and engaged in a verbal tussle with its driver.

Cosejo apologized for the video, saying he has learned his lesson.

"A few years ago I made a video with a friend about driving in the Philippines. It was a harmless trip that went wrong and now has gone viral on the internet," he said.

"Having fun is not harmless when it's done at the expense of others," Cosejo added. "I take full responsibility for my actions that day. It was a huge lapse in judgement, and I'd like to apologize to anyone and everyone affected by my carelessness."

Cosejo's wife also apologized on his behalf, admitting that she was not proud of what her husband did.

She also claimed that Cosejo "has changed a lot in the past two years"  and that "he is not the same man he was in that video."

But as reported by Top Gear Philippines, netizens pointed out that the video was not made few years ago as claimed by the Cosejos since one building seen in the footage was only completed late last year.

Cosejo's video has earned over 622,000 views and has been shared for more than 10,000 times since it was first shared by Top Gear on Sunday morning.