Pres. Duterte stops “e-sabong” operation

ACTING on the recommendation of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary, Eduardo M. Año, President Rodrigo Duterte announced the immediate stoppage of all operations of “e-sabong” (online cock-fighting) in the entire country, effective midnight of May 2, 2022.

During his regular ‘Talk to the People’ on Monday night, May 2, 2022, the Chief Executive took note of the result of a “survey” conducted by the DILG and the “validation” it also conducted on the “social impact” of e-sabong amidst mounting complaints from the public.

“The recommendation of Secretary Año is to do away with e-sabong… So, since it’s his recommendation and I agreed with it and it’s good, so e-sabong will end by tonight (Monday night),” the President declared.

The President explained that he directed Año to conduct a survey to determine the social impact of e-sabong after receiving several objections from a number of people.

“So ginawa ni Sec. Año yung trabaho nya and he reported and validated yung naririnig ko. Yung amin naman sana, buwis lang ang hinabol namin rito. P640 million is P640 million,” Duterte said, referring to the average monthly tax that e-sabong operators are paying to the government.

Last February, the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs passed a resolution calling on Malacañan to shut down e-sabong’s operations.

The primary concern at the time is the reported disappearance of some 30 “sabungeros” since last year and whose fate remains unclear up to now.

Despite the Senate recommendation, Pres. Duterte at the time declined to stop the operation of e-sabong, citing its contributions to the national coffers.

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) chairperson Andrea Domingo also earlier expressed apprehension in the Senate’s proposal, noting this can result to billions worth of lost revenue for the government.

At an average of P640 million cited by Pres. Duterte, the government stands losing P7.680 billion a year in taxes.

The President, however, after being appraised by Año and after hearing
loud and clear” the complaints against e-sabong on Monday said that he agreed that e-sabong “was working against our values and yung impact sa pamilya pati sa tao.”

“Eh ang labas di na natutulog yung sabungero 24 hours,” the Chief Executive noted.

He further noted that unlike the government-run “lotto,” e-sabong is creating a problem for the government and the ordinary Filipino.