Caught on cam: Solon denies e-sabong amid viral Congress video

MANILA, Philippines — A congressman denied participating in online cockfighting, or e-sabong, after being caught watching what appeared to be a cockfighting video on his phone right when the 20th Congress first convened.

The long-time lawmaker said on Wednesday night, July 30, he received the footage as part of an invitation to join, but insisted he doesn't engage in such activities.   

Rep. Nicanor Briones (AGAP Party-list), who is serving his fifth term as a congressman, explained to reporters that a family relative sent him the video, informing him that someone sought to invite them to participate in a traditional cockfight.

"Mayroon lang nagmessage sa akin 'yung pamangkin ko na gusto mag-invite ng traditional na sabong na gusto ako na lumaban," he said. 

(My nephew/niece just messaged me saying he wants to invite me to a traditional cockfight where he wants me to compete.)

"Hindi 'yan sabong. 'Yung practice fight na nag-iinvite sa atin. Walang talian, walang tao. Tinitignan ko lang dahil iniinvite tayo," he added while showing the video to the media.  

(That’s not an actual cockfight. It’s just a practice fight we’re being invited to. There were no bets, no crowd. I’m just checking it out because we were invited.)

Briones then expressed frustration over photos and videos of his private messages being taken, saying they were used to make it appear he was idle during the House speaker vote on July 28.

He also suspects an attempt to sabotage him because of his advocacy against smugglers.

"So siguro ako, ang duda ko dito may gustong sumabotahe sa akin dahil tayo’y maraming nakakabangga. Ang aking number one nilalabanan [ay] mga smuggler," Briones said.  

(So for me, I suspect that someone wants to sabotage me because I’ve clashed with a lot of people. My number one target is smugglers.)

He added that invitations to buy roosters and compete in cockfighting derbies are common. During election season, Briones said some groups organized cockfights as fundraising activities, including rotary clubs. He also said he has received invitations to traditional cockfighting events.

"[May nagtatanong] kung pwede ako bumili ng manok at maglaban kasi may mga tawag dito, ay 'tong nagsosolicit ng fund raising. Marami. Iba't ibang klase nagpapasabong," Briones said.  

(Someone was asking if I could buy a rooster and join a fight because there are people here who are soliciting for fundraising. There are many, different kinds of people organizing cockfights.)

"Meron rotary, meron mga organization. Pero meron talagang mga traditional na sabungero na inimbita tayo," he added. 

(There’s the rotary, there are some organizations. But there are also traditional cockfighters who specifically invited us.)

The lawmaker, however, reiterated that he doesn't participate in cockfights and would never be seen entering a cockpit. The video, he argued, does not show online sabong. 

"Tinignan ko lang dahil nagmessage, sinasabi na nag-iinvite ng sabong. Eh ako naman, kaya ko naman tinignan, meron nagmessage sa Messenger. So tinignan ko lang," Briones said. 

(I just checked it out because someone messaged me saying there was an invitation to a cockfight. I only looked into it because someone sent a message on Messenger. So I just checked it.)

While he apologized to the House of Representatives for involving them in this "misunderstanding," he warned those with ulterior motives that accessing and publicly posting his private messages could result in charges under the Data Privacy Act.

"Nagsosorry ako dahil du'n sa pagsasagot ko ng Messenger ay nadamay ang institusyon," he said. 

(I'm apologizing because by responding on Messenger, the institution got dragged into it.)

In recent months, more legislators have voiced alarm over online gambling's destructive effects on Filipino families. Multiple bills have already been introduced calling for tighter regulations or a complete ban.

At the same time, the investigation into the missing sabungeros has seen new developments following allegations from a whistleblower who named gaming mogul Atong Ang as the mastermind. 

The Department of Justice has been leading the probe, with the Philippine Coast Guard conducting diving operations at Taal Lake in search of the remains of the missing cockfighters.