Without a congressional franchise, all online “e-sabong” betting is deemed illegal, administration PDP Laban Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III warned on Tuesday.The lawmaker asserted that operating online cockfight betting anchored only on a license issued by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) is deemed insufficient.“E-sabong or online cockfighting must have a congressional franchise, not just a Pagcor license,” said Pimentel. Otherwise “all e-sabong operators may be held liable for illegal operations with only a Pagcor license,” he stressed.Pimentel pointed out that in accordance with the Constitution and existing rules, the House of Representatives submit all applications for legislative franchises for separate public hearings before it is elevated for separate Senate scrutiny prior to its submission for final approval of the enabling law by Malacañang.As of now, it was reported, however, that e-sabong operators are growing in numbers but only one, Lucky-8 Star Quest Inc., has yet applied for legislative franchise from Congress to operate and broadcast cockfighting.Under the proposed law, Lucky-8 Star Quest Inc. was deemed eligible to be granted a 25-year franchise to operate and broadcast its cockfighting operations.The House approved StarQuest’s franchise last September, while the reviewing Senate Committee on Public Services already elevated its counterpart bill for plenary deliberations prior to final Senate approval.Pimentel, however, clarified senators need to carefully study the enabling legislation granting the franchise for safeguards after getting feedbacks that even minors were allowed to gamble and place bets in e-sabong.Image credits:
