Senate panel seeks to stop e-sabong (Sabong News)
Author
Bernadette E. Tamayo
Date
FEBRUARY 25 2022
THE Senate Committee on Public Order has sought the temporary suspension of the operation of seven firms catering to e-sabong (electronic cockfighting) amid the alleged abduction of 31 individuals involved in online gambling.
Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, Senate public order panel chairman, on Thursday led the hybrid hearing on the reported disappearance of some people involved in e-sabong, which he described as a "multibillion industry."
Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto 3rd moved for the adoption of a resolution urging the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to suspend e-sabong operation.
The seven e-sabong firms are 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.
The committee approved Sotto's motion "to send a strong resolution urging Pagcor to suspend all the licenses of all those operating e-sabong for so many reasons."
"But the main reason right now is while [the] investigation is going on, it will hopefully make them cooperate," Sotto said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported that 31 individuals involved in e-sabong have gone missing. Their victims' relatives were present during the hearing.
Dela Rosa urged the PNP to locate the victims as he deplored the addiction to e-sabong.
Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, the committee's vice chairman, said, "Thirty-one reported missing persons as of latest count, without any trace apparently, is a big challenge to the PNP and the entire law enforcement community.
"Failing to resolve these cases will be a big slap or an embarrassment to the PNP as well. So, I hope this legislative inquiry can help resolve the issue at hand," Lacson said.
Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel 3rd assured the family members of the victims that the committee will not stop until the people responsible were unmasked.
"We cannot allow such a person, a group or a syndicate to continue to exist," he said.
PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Bernardo Carlos said that a special task group is investigating the disappearances.
Carlos is hoping for a major breakthrough as investigators handling the case are closely coordinating with different banks where the victims had accounts.
WITH FRANCIS EARL CUETO
