NextGen Day

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate launched an investigation into the escalating number of missing persons reportedly involved in sabong (cockfighting) and its online form on Thursday, with senators recommending that e-sabong operators’ licenses be suspended to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor).

The chair of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who presided over the proceedings, voiced concern over the instances involving 31 people who went missing in recent months after visiting cockpit arenas in Manila and Southern Luzon.

“Whatever they did, it can’t be more essential than their lives,” Dela Rosa remarked during the hearing as he listened to emotive testimony from relatives of the missing, who complained about the security officers in the affected cockpits’ inability to cooperate.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III requested to Pagcor that all e-sabong operators’ licenses be suspended “until we find an appropriate conclusion to what is happening to these 31 missing individuals.”

Senator Panfilo Lacson, meanwhile, echoed Sotto’s motion, arguing that the suspension should apply to Belvedere Vista Corp., Lucky 8 Star Quest Inc., Visayas Cockers Club Inc., Jade Entertainment And Gaming Technologies, Inc., Newin Cockers Alliance Gaming Corp., Philippine Cockfighting International Inc., and Golden Buzzer, Inc.’s operations and existing e-sabong licenses.

Diane Erica Jogno, Pagcor’s acting vice president of the E-Sabong Licensing Department, who was present during the hearing, said they have no concerns to the motion to suspend the e-sabong permits.

Dela Rosa mentioned that a particular cockpit in Sta. Cruz, Laguna, known as the Sta. Cruz WPM Arena, is “notorious” for being the scene of 23 missing people in four cases.

“Isipin ninyo yung pulis na napakalaki ng sweldo, sila ang otoridad nakagawa pa ng krimen dahil sa pagkalulong sa e-sabong, sila ang otoridad nakagawa pa ng krimen.” How much more yung ordinary tao na wala na wala na wala na wala na wala na wala So ito ay should pagtuunan natin ng pansin talaga kung paano ma-address ang addiction sa e-sabong (Even police officials and authorities become involved in crimes as a result of e-sabong, especially regular people without solid jobs). So we have to handle the e-sabong addiction),” Dela Rosa stated during the hearing.

Dela Rosa also heard from police officers about a patrolman who was arrested in Southern Luzon for a string of robberies. The police officer then disclosed that his e-sabong addiction had resulted in debts of up to PHP1 million.

Gen. Dionardo Carlos, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), stated the police are relentless in their pursuit of unlawful cockfights.

During the hearing, attorney Angelo Nio Santos, president of Lucky 8 Star Quest Inc., which produces the famous Pitmaster Live, highlighted game-fixing tactics such as paralyzing cocks before bouts or giving them drugs the night before to weaken them during battles.

Santos also justified the lack of closed-circuit television (CCTV) security cameras in his company’s venues, claiming that the issue is now being addressed.

“Itong ganito po nangyari sa amin (This is new for us),” he remarked, alluding to the missing cockfighting fans.

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, however, said the bravado of the person or group responsible for the disappearances suggests they are as powerful as the PNP.

“We cannot continue to enable such a person, organization, or syndicate to exist,” Pimentel stated.

Sen. Grace Poe, chairwoman of the Committee on Public Service, stated that there is a need to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of providing online gambling operators franchises.

She also stated that the taxes paid by franchisees may be used to pay government services such as Universal Health Care.

Meanwhile, Sen. Francis “Tol” Tolentino questioned whether Pagcor has the legal jurisdiction to regulate and issue licenses for “e-sabong,” or remote betting on live-streamed cockfighting matches.

Tolentino stated, “I don’t see any legal authority, some authority, emanating from law, or from Congress, that gives you the power to grant permits for e-sabong.”

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