Bren Esports owner cleared of drug smuggling charges by CA

The Court of Appeals (CA) has overturned a decision naming businessman Bernard “Bren” Chong, the owner of mobile gaming team Bren Esports, as among those allegedly involved in the foiled drug smuggling at the Manila International Container Port in 2019.

In a 27-page decision, the Appellate court’s Special 17th Division rendered “annulling and setting aside” the orders issued by Manila City Regional Trial Court Branch 53 which named Chong as one of the accused and co-conspirators for the importation of dangerous drugs being one of the alleged owners of Fortuneyield Cargo Services Corporation —the assigned consignee of the confiscated drugs.

The businessman, whose family also owns sports apparel and shoes company World Balance, filed a Petition for Certiorari before the CA on July 1, 2022 stating that the Manila RTC committed grave abuse of discretion when he was accused of the crime of violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

To prove his non-involvement in the smuggling incident, Chong submitted a certification showing that he had assigned his shares of stocks in Fortuneyield to its president Jaymark De Vicente.

The CA, in its decision, said Chong was able to prove he was no longer involved with Fortuneyield.

“At the crux of the controversy rests on whether petitioner’s claim that he was no longer connected with Fortuneyield on or about March 22, 2019, that time of the alleged commission of the crime, by reason of his resignation, assignment of shares, and replacement as president of the said company long before the said commission of the crime, has been sufficiently established,” the CA said.

The Appellate court said that “there is no sufficient basis to conclude that the petitioner [Chong] was still an officer of Fortuneyield nor had any vested interest therein at the time of the commission of the offense.”

The CA also ordered the dismissal of the case as well as the issued warrant of arrest against the businessman.

Chong, who is also an “angel investor” in many startups around the world, founded Bren Esports in 2017, the Filipino esports team which made history by becoming the first Philippine squad to win the $300,000 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang M2 World Championship title three years ago

Chong’s Bren Esports also had competitive teams in CS:GO, PUBG, League of Legends, Overwatch, Valorant, Hearthstone, Clash Royale, Arena of Valor, Rules of Survival, and Tekken 7. —JMB, GMA Integrated News