Camille Naredo

Members of an inter-agency coordinating committee conduct a walk through on July 15, 2024

Members of an inter-agency coordinating committee conduct a walk through on July 15, 2024, as the House of Representatives prepares for the coming State Of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on July 22. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

CONGRESS-SONA

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — A congressman photographed and caught on video watching a cockfight on his phone while the House of Representatives was in session last Monday is being urged to “come out” and “apologize”.House Committee on Public Order and Safety Chairperson Rep. Rolando Valeriano issued this call after the photos and videos went viral on social media.“Dapat come out na siya, lumabas na siya at aminin niya, at humingi na lang ng dispensa. Tutal, malamang pinagsisisihan niya na ito sa mga oras na ito,” he said.“Siguro wala sa timing, wala sa tamang lugar at sana hindi nangyari… Baka hindi naman talagang games ‘yun… Hindi ko pa siya napapanood eh. We&#x27;ll look into that… Sana hindi nangyari yun at sana huwag na maulit,” Valeriano added.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/30/chiz-solon-watching-sabong-at-sona-shows-challenge-of-banning-gambling-1319">Chiz: Solon watching sabong at SONA shows challenge of banning gambling</a></div>He said it is up to the House Ethics Committee whether it will investigate the matter.Lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc at the lower chamber also believe the House should look into the incident, saying the public deserves an explanation, and if necessary, an apology.“Bahala na ‘yung leadership na matiyak na mangyari ito… Kredibilidad ng institusyon ang nakatayari ito. As to sanctions, well, let&#x27;s see. Kanina may mga tanong. Ano ba yun? Video ba yun? Of course, lahat ito spekulasyon. So, kailangan din talaga ma-establish ‘yung facts. At pinakamainam kung magkaroon na ng paliwanag mula sa kinauukulan. Para masara na ‘yung usapin. At whether may sanction or whether an apology will suffice, at least malinaw. Pero the point is, tama lang at dapat mabigyan ng paliwanag ang publiko,” ACT Teachers Party List Representative Antonio Tinio said.“Unfortunate na may ganoong pangyayari. Mataas ang expectation at dapat lang ng mamamayan sa mga kongresista bilang mga public servants. So, dapat hindi mangyari yung ganun…We should expect, dapat i-apply yung rules. As to whether may illegal activity na naganap o somehow involved, kasama dapat ‘yun sa i-consider ng House sa mga aksyon na gagawin sa mga kasamahan,” he added.“Ang maganda siguro ay magkaroon ng karampatang aksyon… Sa bahagi ng House ay magkaroon ng probing kung ano po ba talaga ang nangyari, and then kung ano man yung rules that have to be adopted in relation to sa nangyari, eh &#x27;di gawin siya sa pinakakagyat,” Kabataan Party List Representative Renee Co also said.1TAHANAN Party List Representative Nathaniel Oducado said the incident is a “question of delicadeza”.“Wala naman sa rules, pero I think it&#x27;s a question of delicadeza…We protect the institution and we will still show them na kahit may ganoong a few congressman, I&#x27;m not sure kung ano ginagawa niya specifically, but mapapakita namin na mas maraming congressman na gumagawa ng trabaho talaga…I give the wisdom to the leadership and I think they will impose proper sanctions,” he said.Meanwhile, Labor Leader Jerome Adonis expressed dismay over the incident and is calling for accountability.“Sa point ng taxpayer, kaming mga manggagawa, nagpapasweldo ng mga government official, alam n’yo, nakakadismaya talaga” Adonis said. “Itong congressman na to, kung sino man siya… kinakaladkad niya talaga sa kahihiyan ‘yung buong institusyon. Nakikita ng publiko na ‘yung mga pinapasweldo pala nating mga ilang kinatawan, eh ganoon ka kawalang-pagpapahalaga doon sa sesyon…Challenge ito sa leadership ng house kung paano niya bibigyan ng malinaw at kongkretong aksyon yung nangyari po sa session nila.”

A congressman photographed and caught on video watching a cockfight on his phone while the House of Representatives was in session last Monday was urged to “come out” and “apologize”.

A congressman photographed and caught on video watching a cockfight on his phone while the House of Representatives was in session last Monday was urged to “come out” and “apologize”.

Congressman spotted watching cockfighting on his phone urged to ‘come out’ and ‘apologize’

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Congressman spotted watching cockfighting on his phone urged to ‘come out’ and ‘apologize’

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 30, 2025 05:45 PM PHT

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Updated July 30, 2025 07:07 PM PHT

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