E-sabong Senate report out by May 23 (Sabong News)
Author
Butch Fernandez
Date
MAY 03 2022
SENATE probers tasked to investigate online cockfight betting are poised to render a report into the missing 34 cockfight aficionados as well as problems besetting the controversial business as soon as Congress reconvenes regular sessions on May 23. Senator Ronald dela Rosa, chairman of the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drug conducting an inquiry, said this over the weekend.
This, even as President Duterte was expected to announce his decision, late Monday night, on whether to allow e-sabong to continue amid a growing outcry over its impact on the social fabric and on peace and order.
While the inquiry began with a police-oriented focus on the mysterious disappearance of 34 “sabongeros,” the four hearings by the committee also looked into the financial arrangements entailed in e-sabong and whether the government was getting its just share from this. Imposing correct taxes on winnings from online cockfighting, as well as on e-wallet transactions, were also tackled.
DeLa Rosa said the committee report is now being finalized following the committee’s findings on the operations of online cockfight betting as well as the 34 missing cockfight bettors.
Dela Rosa said the committee findings and recommendations have been laid down but he was still asking for inputs and recommendations from his fellow senators sitting in the inquiry.
He recalled that when they concluded the hearings on the e-sabong last April, he informed members the committee would push for stricter regulations governing e-sabong and limit its operations only on Sundays and holidays, from the present “daily and 24-hour operations.”
The senator added the committee is also mulling over recommending immediate suspension or closure of e-sabong operations if the games are marred by crime.
Moreover, dela Rosa is confident that majority of the senators sitting in the committee will also support calls to impose proper taxes from winnings in e-sabong through digital wallets.
He recalled that the 24 senators were unanimous in calling on President Duterte to suspend the on-line Sabong bettings following the abduction of 34 sabong aficionados, even as Malacanang indicated the government needs the revenue of over P600 million per month. Butch Fernandez
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