President Duterte: “The recommendation of Secretary Año is to do away with e-sabong…”
PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE — The President said that he will order an end to “e-sabong” or online cockfighting operations in the country following the recommendation of Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, citing its social cost to the Filipino people.
In his “Talk to the People” public briefing aired Tuesday morning, the President has directed to stop the operations of “e-sabong”. He also said that he was leaving it to Año to order when the e-sabong operations should be stopped.
“The recommendation of Secretary Año is to do away with e-sabong and he cited the validation report coming from all sources. 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 said.
“E-sabong” or “online sabong” operations hit the headlines recently following the disappearance of dozens of sabungeros involved in the industry. Its continued operations even during the Holy Week was also questioned as well.
The President said that the message is “loud and very clear” that e-sabong is “working against our values”.
“Ang labas hindi na natutulog yung sabungero, 24 hours“, the President said.
READ ALSO: President Duterte Says To Stop Online Sabong If Authorities Link Illegal Activities To It
Prior to this, the President has justified his reason for allowing the operations of “e-sabong” to continue as it is a large-income generating activity that would be key to the government’s projects, especially in its healthcare system.
At that time, President Duterte also expressed belief that its operations should be under the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
The President added that online cockfighting operations should be placed under the supervision of PAGCOR as all state-sanctioned gaming activities are under its jurisdiction.
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The Filipino people can only pray that this announcement carries with it the kind of permanence that it deserves just as all e-games do. But unless all such games are seriously stopped as well, wouldn’t it be quite unfair if it gets the singular Axe.