Caught in the act.
In a moment that has since gone viral and stirred intense public backlash, two Filipino congressmen were caught on camera watching online sabong and playing billiards on their phones during one of the most crucial sessions in the Philippine House of Representatives — the vote for the next House Speaker.
The solons might have been so bored with the election process, knowing that the speakership will again be clinched by Rep. Martin Romualdez of Leyte’s first district.
The incident, recorded during the live televised session, shows the two lawmakers casually disengaged from the proceedings, with one engrossed in digital cockfighting and the other flicking through a mobile billiards game, while the rest of the chamber deliberated and cast votes for the country’s third most powerful position in government.
Although only one of the congressmen remains unnamed officially, social media sleuths have begun circulating screen grabs and footage, pressing for accountability.
AGAP Party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones openly admitted that he was the person caught watching online sabong. He offered the lame alibi that he just opened a message from his pamangkin, inviting him to be a sponsor in a derby.
Meanwhile, the House leadership has yet to issue an official statement on whether these lawmakers will face any form of disciplinary action.
But beyond the immediate outrage, this spectacle raises critical questions about the leadership and internal discipline under Speaker Martin Romualdez, who was recently reelected to the position amidst growing calls for reform, transparency, and professionalism in Congress.
A Reflection on Leadership
Analysts and political observers point out that such behavior is not merely an embarrassment; it reflects deeper cracks in the institutional culture of the legislature.
If lawmakers can afford to be disengaged and entertained during a pivotal vote, what does that say about the leadership’s capacity to instill order and decorum?
In the Senate, newbie Senator Erwin Tulfo castigated his former colleagues in the House of Representative for trifling with the job and adding mockery to Congress which is already reeling from a deluge of criticisms from the public. Tulfo suggested that the two erring congressmen should face sanctions from the House ethics committee.
Speaker Romualdez, who has long positioned himself as a statesman capable of uniting various blocs in the Lower House, may now face renewed scrutiny over how much control he truly exerts over his fellow legislators.
His silence so far on the matter only fuels perceptions that his administration may be too permissive — or worse, indifferent — to conduct unbecoming of public officials.
Political analysts believe that “this isn’t just about two inattentive congressmen. It’s about an environment that allows — even normalizes — such apathy in critical national matters. Leadership is measured not only by legislation but by the discipline it demands.”
Public Trust on the Line
For a legislative body already battling low trust ratings, the viral clip couldn’t come at a worse time.
As Congress prepares to deliberate on next year’s national budget and several contentious bills, citizens are left questioning whether their elected officials are taking their mandate seriously.
Unless Speaker Romualdez publicly addresses the issue and imposes consequences, this incident may mark yet another blow to the credibility of the House — and to his speakership.
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