Representative Eddie Villanueva has strong words against online cockfighting or e-sabong as the House of Representatives granted an e-sabong firm a 25-year franchise.
The House ways and means committee approved on Monday House Bill No. 10204, which grants Visayas Cockers Club Inc. a franchise to operate offsite bettings stations from anywhere the Philippines.
Villanueva, the representative of the Citizens' Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) party list, was one of the main oppositions of the bill, citing increasing suicide cases and religious grounds.
In an interview with DZRH, Villanueva said that such bills on e-sabong should not be entertained because "it will literally destroy the nation."
"'Yung gagawin nating sugalan ang bawat tahanan ng bawat pilipino all over the Philippines - masyadong shocking development ito kasi wala itong restriction, walang regulation," he added.
(To make every Filipino home in the Philippines a gambling place – it’s a shocking development because it has no restrictions and regulations.)
He cited suicide cases of e-sabong gamblers who lost, adding that there are also cases of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who reported getting addicted to the game. He also claimed that there is no technology as of yet that could protect kids from getting exposed to online gambling.
The lawmaker further cited religious grounds in his move to oppose franchises for online cockfighting firms, saying that Filipinos should not further anger God amid a pandemic.
"Gagawin na talagang gambling hell ang Pilipinas. Kawawa naman tong bayan natin, lalo na sa panahon ng pandemic, gagalitin pa natin ang Diyos? Galit na nga ang Diyos sa buong mundo dahil sa widespread wickedness kaya nga nagkaroon nitong COVID-19 pandemic," he said.
(They will really make the Philippines a gambling hell. I pity our nation, especially in the time of a pandemic, do we really want to anger God? God is already angry at the world because of widespread wickedness that’s why we have the COVID-19 pandemic.)
He added that the nation should avoid being greedy to prevent inviting the wrath of God.
"Eh 'yung wrath of God hanggang third and fourth generations 'yan. Kaya hindi alam ng mga kaibigan natin dito sa Kongreso. Masyadong grabe yan na kapag ang Diyos ang kalaban mo," he also said.
(And the wrath of God can last until the third and fourth generations. That’s what our friends in Congress don’t know. It’s too much to oppose God.)
The lawmaker then appealed to his fellow lawmakers to oppose the bill to prevent destroying the nation.
"Gusto ko lang manawagan sa mga kasama sa Kongreso, may mga batas na pwedeng ipakisama, pero 'yung mga panukalang batas na katulad nito will surely destroy our nation," he said.
(I want to appeal to lawmakers in Congress, there are laws that can be done, but a proposal like this will surely destroy our nation.)
The lawmaker also urged the public to be more involved in the passing of the bill, saying that they should participate in nation-building.
"Ang tanging apela ko sa taong bayan ay kausapin, sulatan, tawagan ang mga kinatawan nila sa iba-ibang distrito o partylist sa buong bansa," he said.
(My only appeal to the public is to talk, write, and call their representatives in different districts or party lists across the country.)
"Kaya kailangan be involved in nation building, maging matapang tayo na ipaglaban natin kung ano ang tama sa atin mga mamamayan," he added. "Kaya kailangan ang boldness and good courage in fighting all evils especially the evils of gambling."
(That’s why we need to be involved in nation-building. We need to be brave and fight for what is right for our citizens. That’s why we need boldness and courage in fighting all levels, especially the evils of gambling.)
