On the opening day of the 20th Congress in the Philippines, what should have been a solemn agenda was disrupted by a set of photos: two congressmen were caught focusing on watching a billiards match and an online cockfighting game "Sabong" during the session, causing a public uproar.
According to images released by Abante, these two congressmen were immersed in their electronic devices during the election process for the Speaker of the House, completely ignoring the proceedings. Since the photos were taken from behind, their identities have not yet been revealed, but the images have quickly spread on social media.
The election for the Speaker that day was merely a formality, with Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez being re-elected unopposed, but the public did not appreciate the congressmen's distracted behavior during the opening ceremony.
Many netizens criticized this act as "blatant dereliction of duty," mocking them with comments like "physically present but mentally in the game," and some angrily commented, "Our taxes are paying for them to play Sabong in Congress?"
Although some joked about their "strong multitasking skills," the overall public reaction to such behavior was strong, highlighting the expectations of the public for the ethical conduct of political figures.
