The head of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr., stated that the Anti-Cyber Group (ACG) has suggested categorizing e-sabong or online cockfighting as an illegal form of gambling under the law.
“The PNP-ACG has recommended [the] inclusion of e-sabong to illegal gambling activities penalized under Presidential Decree 1602, and sanctions against service providers that will fail to block or takedown e-sabong websites,” Azurin said at a public briefing.
“It should be noted that e-sabong websites hosted outside the Philippines can only be blocked, not taken down, as these sites can continue to operate via virtual private network,” he added.
According to Azurin, the PNP monitors 272 platforms for e-sabong activity, including 146 websites, 67 Facebook accounts, 31 Facebook groups, 18 Facebook pages, and 10 mobile applications.
The police also requested that the Department of Information and Communication Technology and the National Telecommunications Commission remove five live websites that still host e-sabong.
So far, 102 platforms have been blocked or deactivated, 76 others have been purged or deactivated, and 39 websites and a Facebook page have been made dormant and out of service.
Make e-sabong illegal under law – PNP-ACG
Azurin stated that 28 other suspects in e-sabong games were recently apprehended in different operations in Mandaluyong City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Santiago City.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 9 in December 2022, ordering the ongoing prohibition of all e-sabong activities.
Marcos insisted that it is the government’s obligation to protect public health and morals and promote public safety and the general welfare of the people.
The President also instructed the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to coordinate with local government units (LGUs), and other relevant government agencies and private entities for the implementation of EO No. 9.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are also instructed to implement the order and take appropriate action against those who violate it.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte endorsed the Department of Interior and Local Government’s suggestion to ban online cockfighting in May 2022, blaming it for the degradation of moral standards among many Filipinos.
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