Senator Ping Lacson is seeking stricter rules for “online sabong” operations.
Presidential candidate Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson is seeking stricter rules for “online sabong” (online cockfighting) operations.
According to Lacson, the Philippine government must tighten regulations on “online sabong” operations if it is not willing to suspend it. He said that its social implications may be costly once more Filipinos become addicted to it.
“At least man lang strict regulation. Huwag 24 hours. Dapat mahigpit ang regulatory authority ng PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation),” Lacson said, noting that the activity’s online nature makes it hard to monitor.
He added that the social cost of “online sabong” is too high with overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) not being able to come home because of gambling debts.
In the President’s “Talk to the People” public address last Wednesday, President Rodrigo Duterte rejected lawmakers’ calls for the suspension of “online sabong” operations in the Philippines, saying that the government will suffer big revenue losses.
“It’s only done in America, in the casinos in hotels. Here, it’s not being held in the hotel but the entire nation is free to go gambling,” the President said. “So, I will look first on what is its system. But gambling for 24 hours, I seem to disagree with that proposition.”
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The President said that he’s personally against all forms of gambling due to its social costs, in addition to problems of game-fixing and the government’s inability to keep minors away from “online sabong” and becoming addicted to it.
President Duterte said that he allowed POGOs (Philippine offshore gaming operators) and “online sabong” because the revenues helped fund the government’s economic recovery efforts and pandemic response.
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