Palace: No Duterte order on suspension of e-sabong ops yet

Malacañang on Tuesday said President Rodrigo Duterte has yet to issue an order stopping the operations of electronic/online sabong (e-sabong).

Acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles made a day after Senate President Vicente Sotto III announced that the President has "agreed to suspend" the licenses for e-sabong operations amid the disappearance of at least 31 sabungeros.

Sotto based his announcement on his conversation with Senator Ronald dela Rosa.

"Procedurally, kailangan ng Senate resolution to be sent to PAGCOR. Then PAGCOR [should be the one] to advise the Office of the President with regard to that," Nograles said, referring to Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

(The Senate Resolution should be sent to PAGCOR first.)

"The Resolution [has] yet to reach the PAGCOR or the OP," Nograles added.

The Senate public order and dangerous drugs committee headed by Dela Rosa already approved a resolution urging PAGCOR to suspend issuance of licenses to online sabong operations. — Llanesca T. Panti/RSJ, GMA News