Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday expressed support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s executive order continuing the suspension of e-sabong operations nationwide, saying it is “a necessary step” to protect the wellbeing of Filipinos.
“I believe this is a necessary step to protect the wellbeing of our citizens and prevent the negative consequences of online gambling, such as addiction and financial ruin,” Cayetano, a longstanding critic of e-sabong, said on December 29, 2022.
The President had issued EO No. 9 on December 28 citing the “urgent need to reiterate the continued suspension of all e-sabong operations nationwide, clarify the scope of existing regulations and direct relevant agencies to pursue aggressive crackdown against illegal e-sabong operations, in accordance with law.”
Cayetano said the EO formalizes what then-President Rodrigo Duterte had done last May when he ordered a stop to all e-sabong operations in the country in the wake of the disappearance of 34 “sabungeros” or cockfighters.
The case, which had been linked to cheating in online gambling, has yet to be solved and the 34 sabungeros remain missing after almost two years.
“Bukod sa mga epekto nito sa mga pamilya, may link din ang e-sabong sa krimen tulad ng pagdukot sa 34 sabungero na January 2021 pa nawala,” Cayetano said.
“It is imperative that we do everything in our power to prevent such tragedies from occurring. Kailangan nating maseguro ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.
The senator recalled that in ordering the suspension of e-sabong operations in the country, President Duterte cited the negative effect e-sabong was having on Filipinos, saying the activity was “working against our values” despite bringing in millions of pesos monthly in government revenues.
