Dela Rosa: Senators eyeing legislative franchise for ‘e-sabong’ operations (Sabong News)

Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Tuesday said senators are now looking into transferring the authority to issue permits for online cockfighting or “e-sabong” from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) to Congress. “That is one of the recommendations that we are discussing, if possible, to remove the power to issue licenses from PAGCOR to Congress through legislative franchise,” Dela Rosa said in Filipino in an interview over Radio DZBB. Dela Rosa also pointed out Congress can exercise its legislative oversight functions to monitor online cockfighting activities through the Senate Committee on Games and Amusements. But while senators are amenable to this proposal, Dela Rosa said the downside of transferring the power to issue licenses would be the length of the effectivity of the franchise should Congress push to regulate “e-sabong.” “The downside is…it will be effective for 25 years. These e-sabong operators will benefit for 25 years,” he said. Still, he said, senators are inclined to support the proposal to remove from the PAGCOR the authority to issue licenses to online cockfighting operators to Congress due to the social cost of “e-sabong.” “That’s why we really need to regulate it properly. We should look inot the frequency and scope of coverage. Because the problem here is addiction,” he said. “Why are people addicted to it? Because of the frequency…because it operates 24/7,” he said. Dela Rosa said he is looking at amending certain provisions under the Cockfighting Law, or Presidential Decree 449, which allows the operation of licensed cockpits only during Sundays and legal holidays, except on December 30, June 12, November 30, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Election Day and during local fiestas. “This e-sabong is a unique animal. So the bottomline here is the frequency should be lowered to cure addiction,” he said.