Cayetano flags franchise application for e-sabong (Latest Sabong News)
Author
Jovee Marie de la Cruz
Date
DECEMBER 06 2021
AMID mounting opposition to the e-sabong measure from religious leaders and other legislators, former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano challenged the 18th Congress to be more critical of the 25-year franchise applications from e-sabong (electronic cockfight) operators.
Cayetano said members of the House of Representatives are now considering approving a second franchise application by an e-sabong operator despite existing regulations put in place by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) since April this year.
“Pagcor’s emergency use of e-sabong, so to speak, is to grant licenses to operators because the agency said it was running out of cash. But why would you give e-sabong operators full access or full authorization for 25 years when we’ve regulated them for barely six months? We haven’t seen whether it is beneficial or harmful or neutral to society.” the lawmaker said.
Cayetano added that no member of Congress can order Pagcor around.
“The President can; not us,” he said. “But we do have a say in the granting of franchises. So why would you give them 25 years to operate without fully knowing its effect on society?”
Earlier, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) denounced the legalization of e-sabong as a “disastrous” move by the government.
“In the context of the pandemic that has locked down the elderly, the vulnerable, and the children for too long, the legalization of e-sabong has been one of the most disastrous things ever allowed by the government,” CBCP President Bishop Pablo Virgilio David said.
Cayetano has opposed the approval of the 25-year franchise granted by Congress to e-sabong operator Lucky 8 Star Quest Inc. in September. He said the best outcome would be for Pagcor to revoke the operating licenses it has given to at least seven operators.
The lawmaker suggested that members of the House can simply allow Pagcor to implement its existing regulatory framework for e-sabong operators for at least six months, and commission a report on the revenues generated from licensing fees and the operations’ impact on society, instead of an outright granting 25-year franchises.