Senator Erwin Tulfo has called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to clarify why online cockfighting operations, or e-sabong, are still active despite being declared illegal during the previous administration.
As reported by RH Raymund Dadpaas, Tulfo, who chairs the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement, is seeking answers from law enforcement authorities regarding the continued activity of two e-sabong operators who, according to him, do not pay taxes to the government and yet remain operational.
A report from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) indicated that the agency had already requested assistance from both the PNP and NBI to shut down the illegal operations, but no significant action has been taken.
The senator expressed concern over the apparent inaction and raised doubts about claims that the authorities are unaware of the locations of these illegal cockpits. He pointed out that the presence of large crowds and the online broadcast of these events make it unlikely that local police officials, including provincial and regional directors, are uninformed.
Based on Tulfo’s findings, one of the illegal e-sabong operations is based in Central Luzon, while another operates in CALABARZON. The operator is reportedly from the Cordillera region.
In response, Tulfo plans to summon the provincial directors of the PNP in Pampanga and Batangas, along with regional directors from Central Luzon, CALABARZON, and Cordillera, in the next Senate hearing.
With the recent appointments of PNP Chief General Rommel Francisco Marbil and NBI Officer-in-Charge Undersecretary Jesse Andres, Tulfo expressed optimism that the issue can be resolved.
Sen. Tulfo also noted that the continued operations of illegal e-sabong may be linked to possible complicity or tolerance from within law enforcement agencies.
