PRO 7’s drive vs. e-sabong nets 323 persons (Latest Sabong News)
A TOTAL of 323 persons were arrested by the Police Regional Office Central Visayas (PRO 7) with the help of members from the national support unit from December 5 to 10, 2022, as part of its continuing drive against e-sabong.
PRO 7 Director Brigadier General Roderick Augustus Alba said they were able to seize P161,902 in cash during the 130 anti-illegal gambling operations they conducted during this period.
Alba said he immediately ordered his commanders to go after persons involved in online cockfighting after Philippine National Police Chief General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. ordered a crackdown following reports that e-sabong shifted to “guerilla operations” even though it was banned in May by then President Rodrigo Duterte.
Alba said this will be part of the 92-day challenge he issued to police chiefs to reduce the crime volume, address the illegal drugs problem and clear the region of criminal elements.
"The Team PNP Region 7 is eager to put an end to these illegal activities spreading across online platforms. With the unending support of our community and other law enforcement agencies, together, for sure, we will be able to find the root of the proliferation of the guerilla operations of online sabong and stop it from growing,” Alba said.
The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) arrested the most number of persons with 121 in the 31 anti-illegal gambling operations it conducted.
CCPO Director Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog said the suspects used their cellphones to bet on e-sabong after they downloaded its app.
He also said they have yet to monitor persons who feed live videos of cockfights on the internet that are being used as basis for e-sabong.
“We have not monitored any betting stations in Cebu City, but we have arrested many bettors who used their cellphones, laptops, tablets using the e-sabong app. That’s where they get the result. Sometimes they get the result from a legitimate cockpit arena,” he said in Tagalog.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Regional Field Unit also continues to monitor for e-sabong in Central Visayas.
