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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Briones admits he's the viral 'sabong' watcher; says photographer should apologize

Briones admits he's the viral 'sabong' watcher; says photographer should apologize

Published Jul 30, 2025 06:56 pm

At A Glance

  • AGAP Party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones came clean on Wednesday night, July 30, and admitted that he was the viral "sabong" watcher in the House plenary hall.
AGAP Party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones (House of Representatives website/ MANILA BULLETIN)
AGAP Party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones (House of Representatives website/ MANILA BULLETIN)


AGAP Party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones came clean on Wednesday night, July 30, and admitted that he was the viral "sabong" watcher in the House plenary hall.
However, Briones insisted that he wasn't playing online sabong or cockfighting at that time. He say he doesn't even know how to engage in online gambling, and that he has never been inside a cockfighting arena.
"Hindi naman e-sabong, kaya ang tawag ko nga ay fake news (It's not e-sabong, that's why I call the allegation fake news)," he told House reporters in an interview.
On Monday morning, during the first session day of the first regular session, Briones was photographed from behind by news lensmen while watching what appeared to be a cockfighting video. Naturally, the photos went viral.
Briones said what actually happened what that he clicked a link that was sent to him by his nephew.
"So nagkataon lang na nag-message yung aking pamangkin at may nag-iinvite na sumali ako sa kanilang tradisyunal na pa-sabong. So tinitignan ko. Hindi naman e-sabong kaya ang tawag ko nga ay fake news. Gusto nilang magpakita yung manok na kanilang ipakikita.
(It just so happened that my nephew messaged me and someone was inviting me to join their traditional cockfight event. So I checked, It's not e-sabong, so I call it fake news. They just want to show off the rooster they’re bringing.)
Some of Briones' solon-colleagues have earliered appealed for the viral sabong watcher to come out and apologize for tarnishing the image of the House.
But if somebody should issue an apology, it's the photographers themselves, says the AGAP solon.
"Ang dapat mag-sorry dyan yung kumuha. Nilagyan agad niya ng online sabong, nanonood ng online sabong. Eh hindi naman tooto, hindi naman niya ako kinausap (The one who should apologize is the photographer. He branded it as online sabong, I'm watching online sabong. But that's not true, and he didn't even talk to me)," he said.
"Hindi naman niya ako tanungin. Imposibleng hindi naman niya ako kilala. Sana tinanong naman niya ako (He didn't even ask me. It's impossible that he doesn't know me. I just wished she asked me)."
At any rate, Briones says he has already "forgiven" the photographer.
"Pinatatawad ko na, hindi ko na siya papaylan ng kaso pero humingi naman siya ng dispensa dito sa aming Kongreso. Nakakahiya (I've forgiven him, I wont file a case anymore but I hope he asks for forgiveness from Congress. It's embarrassing)," he said.
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