Lacson to govt: Limit e-sabong operations (Sabong News)
Author
Bernadette E. Tamayo
Date
MARCH 18 2022
SEN. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson called on the government to strictly regulate e-sabong (electronic cockfighting) if the executive department will not suspend it.
The senator and presidential candidate said the social costs of e-sabong may be intangible but will cause major problems as Filipinos, including children, become addicted to it.
He said that limiting e-sabong operations to certain hours will be a good start.
"Dapat mahigpit regulatory authority ng Pagcor (The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Authority should be strict in exercising its regulatory authority)," he added.
He cited reports of some overseas Filipino workers not being able to come home because of their gambling debts and parents having to pay the debts of their addicted children.
There have also been reports of people committing suicide and policemen robbing convenience stores to pay off debts, he added.
"Ito ang hindi tangible pero lumalabas na may nangyayaring actual problema sa e-sabong (These are not tangible but these show there is a problem with e-sabong)," Lacson said, adding the P1.6 billion in revenues a day come from ordinary Filipinos addicted to e-sabong.
President Rodrigo Duterte had balked at suspending e-sabong operations, citing the huge revenues it generates.
Lacson said there are many ways to generate much-needed revenues, including better implementation of tax laws and revisiting existing laws like the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) Law.
Meanwhile, former Philippine National Police chief and Senate candidate retired general Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar proposed to allocate a portion of revenues from e-sabong to increase the P200 monthly subsidy for poor households.
"I understand the decision of the President dahil nasa panahon tayo ng kagipitan at 'yung revenue na mawawala ay malaking tulong rin ito sa pagbibigay ng ayuda o anumang serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan (because these are difficult times and the revenues can be used to help our countrymen)," Eleazar said on Thursday.
Proposals to suspend e-sabong came after the series of disappearances of cockfighting enthusiasts last year.
