Senators slam law enforcement over e-sabong operations

Senators on Wednesday criticized law enforcement agencies as online cockfighting operations continue across the country, despite being declared illegal in 2022.

During a Senate Committee on Games and Amusement hearing, Senator Raffy Tulfo presented a live feed of an e-sabong operation allegedly running in Central Luzon.

He then questioned authorities, including the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG), the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), and the National Bureau of Investigation’s Cybercrime Division, on whether they were aware of these activities.

“Yes sir, we are aware… These are online platforms. We have submitted requests to DICT, NTC, and CICC for takedown and continuous monitoring,” PNP-ACG Director Police Brigadier General Wilson Asueta said.

Asueta added that, based on their monitoring from July 2022 to present, 7,135 of 7,814 e-sabong platforms or websites have already been blocked.

CICC Executive Director Renato Paraiso admitted that e-sabong remains a problem despite the 2022 government ban, which was prompted by public concerns over gambling addiction, debt, and related crimes.

“It’s an ongoing problem because these platforms are streamed or promoted on sponsored sites. That’s why I’ve requested a meeting with the platforms regarding their advertising policies for illegal gaming,” Paraiso said.

Tulfo said that the operators behind Central Luzon’s e-sabong activities are major gambling lords who have “never been touched” by authorities.

He also questioned the use of the PNP’s estimated P1.3 billion intelligence funds, noting that prominent figures allegedly linked to e-sabong remain at large.

The senator named certain individuals, “Pineda” and “Bernos,” as supposed kingpins.

“Ito, bigtime ‘to. Kingpin ‘to. Never na ginalaw ito ever. Since the start, from the get-go, never na kinalabit kahit man lang.”

(These are major operators. They have never been touched. From the start, they’ve never even been tapped.)

Senator Erwin Tulfo, committee chairman, said e-sabong could not be eradicated in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

He urged authorities to physically visit towns where cockfighting is widespread.

“The only way to take this down is to go to the towns where there are cockpits and cockfighting. That’s where they shoot their videos, in what they call studios.”

“I’m sure your municipal and city police chiefs, NBI regional offices, and agents are aware of these operations. If you really wanted, you could shut down these cockpits in CAR, Region 3, and Region 4,” he added.

In 2022, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ordered the continued suspension of electronic sabong operations nationwide. Under Executive Order No. 9, he emphasized the need to reiterate the ban, clarify regulations, and direct relevant agencies to aggressively crack down on illegal e-sabong activities.

Previously, former President Rodrigo Duterte approved the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s recommendation to halt e-sabong, citing its contribution to the deterioration of moral values among Filipinos.—MCG, GMA Integrated News