A lawmaker has come forward, admitting he was the congressman caught on camera watching what seemed like an “e-sabong” or online cockfight on his phone during the first regular session of the 20th Congress’ House of Representatives on Monday morning, July 28.
AGAP Party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones asserted he was not fond of cockfights, and he has not even stepped foot inside a cockfight arena. When the video of him was taken, he had merely opened a message sent by his nephew, who was inviting him to place a bet in a traditional cockfight.
“Malinis konsensya ko. Hindi ako nago-online sabong. Nag-message lang ‘yung pamangkin ko sa’kin at tiningnan ko,” he clarified in a call with RH 12 Milky Rigonan.
“Hindi ako nakakapasok sa sabungan e, hindi naman (ako) mahilig sa sabong. Mapapagtanong naman ninyo ‘yan dito sa lalawigan ng Batangas kung may nakakita ng kahit sino sa sabungan,” he further stressed said in a later interview on Balansyado.
Briones explained that the video was of a “practice fight,” sent in the hopes of enticing him to participate. It is common practice, he said, for cockfight enthusiasts to invite government officials such as mayors to join such events, which are at times held as fundraisers.
“Mayroong nagi-invite ng mga may traditional na laban ng sabong. Siyempre tayo naman, nalalaman nila na pagka mayroong… ‘yung mga lider natin na tumulong sa’tin. E ‘di tayo naman magpa-participate. Pero hindi ako napunta sa sabungan. May mga fundraising, iba’t-iba,” he said.
“Mayroong nag-iimbita sa atin, ‘yung pamangkin ko, finorward ‘yung practice sabong—practice na walang tally, walang tao, walang pustahan, at tayo ay gustong pasalihin,” he added, explaining that the video was only showcasing the roosters set to fight.
The congressman lamented not being given the opportunity to explain himself. He was waiting for the person behind the camera to reveal themselves so he would know whom to file charges against. However, he felt the viral footage was starting to tarnish the Congress’ image as an institution and decided to simply forgive the culprit, despite them violating his privacy.
“Dapat naman, ‘yung kumuha (ng video), binigyan manlang ako ng pagkakataon (na magpaliwanag). O ‘di naipakita ko sa kanya sana … Hinihintay kong lumabas kung sino ‘yung kumuha sa’kin … para alam ko kung sino ang aking fa-file-an ng kaso. Pero dahil nadadamay na ang Kongreso, nahihiya ako sa aking mga kasama, pati ‘yung reputasyon ng aking, alam no naman ang end ng aking pinaglalaban, mga farmers,” he told the anchors.
“Pero sabi ko nga, pinatatawad ko na siya,” he said.
Briones is of the opinion that if e-sabong cannot be regulated, it should be banned completely, as people who gamble do rather foolish things.
“Sinabi ko na na sa akin, kung puwede, total ban ‘yan, kung hindi rin naman kayang i-regulate ng (ma)ayos. Kasi ... ‘yung mga empleyado namin sa poultry, sa piggery, ‘yung mga empleyado naming gwardiya, janitor, ay nagii-Scatter, nagta-talpak. So against na against ako diyan dahil nahihirapan kami. Kaya minsan nakakagawa ng kalokohan ang aming empleyado,” he observed.
Earlier, Sarangani Lone District Rep. Steve Chiongbian Solon was mistaken as the man in the video because of his surname. Some media outlets used the term “solon” in their publication material captions to refer to the legislator spotted watching e-sabong on his phone, causing netizens to assume it referred to Solon himself.
