After POGO, Pago; confusing ombudsman (Sabong News)

After POGO comes Pago. Pago is a term used for bets in cockpits – a.k.a sabungan – and it seems that while the Senate is busy going through their investigations on POGO in the Philippines, a bunch of e-sabong operators are likewise busy trying to repackage their “business model.” I received information over the weekend that the proponents, investors and major players in e-sabong or online sabong met up on Wednesday Oct. 12 at the Manila Cockpit Arena to form a new alliance among former enemies and rivals. A day after, I received a photo release on Facebook Messenger with the caption: “What a great view! Finally, Cong. Patrick ‘Idol’ Antonio is at the Manila Arena today Oct.16 with Mr. Atong Ang. It’s on! Manok lang ang mag lalaban.” According to the information supplied by several sources both for and against online sabong, the new deal is that the group will unify their various cockpits all over the country, install a digital app for betting inside every member-cockpit and hook up all of them on a live streaming platform (called “Global” something), reportedly owned by Congressman Patrick Antonio. The plan is that bettors can only place their bets inside the premises of member-cockpits and supposedly no longer outside the premises like they used to in betting stations in almost every barangay, thereby addressing one of the loudest complaints against online sabong. If the entire business model is presented and run as a members-only operation, they no longer need a franchise from Pagcor or its supervision. If all the details are threshed out among the incorporators, investors and members of the Group A and Group B participant fighters, the new and improved version is expected to begin as early as Nov. 4 or right after the All Souls/Saints holiday. As expected, some people like it, but critics call it “same dog with a different collar” or “binihisan lang.” For one, the kristos or persons who physically and verbally take bets or negotiate bets while adding color and culture to traditional cockfighting will surely have no place in those member-pits because of computerized bets. The next question asked by critics is whether the operations of those member cockpits will also be limited to Sundays and special holidays only, or will LGUs be allowed by the DILG to issue special permits whenever and wherever and will the operators be allowed to host derbies and fights 24/7? Who will monitor and control online betting from abroad or outside of member-cockpits which will surely happen? Sabungeros and regular cockfighters asked who will set the formula for cuts on winnings, because under the online system, the operators reportedly take a much bigger cut on bets and the prize money for derby winners, handlers, gaffers, etc. They also raised the question on who will ensure that the online operators won’t influence mayors and police officials into limiting or shutting down traditional cockpits where the e-sabong groups operate as they did in the previous administration. The more virulent objectors pointed out that regardless of the form or substance of this members-only or on-site betting only scheme, there remains the unresolved or unsolved disappearance of 32 to 34 +/- missing sabungeros as well as the unfinished work of the Senate regarding the social damage, police corruption, victims of e-sabong. As I pointed out to one senator, after POGO comes Pago, meaning if the government allows the continuation of POGO, they will have no choice but to allow e-sabong lest they be accused of discrimination. But if the Senate disallows POGO will they do likewise to the new and improved e-sabong? Abangan! * * * “Ombudsman Samuel Martires made an appeal to members of the Senate to abolish the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), saying that there are more effective measures that will repel corruption.” (MBT) Before that, the ombudsman placed the officials of ARTA from the Duterte administration under preventive suspension allegedly for abuse of power or something like that. The legal matters have been brought to the Court of Appeals which has recognized the law and the role of ARTA, but as for the suggestion of the ombudsman to abolish ARTA, it was described by some legislators as “a step backward.” In fact, around 32 big business organizations as well as chambers of commerce of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, America, India, etc., recently issued a statement of support for ARTA while expressing their concern over the ombudsman’s suggestion to abolish ARTA. The ombudsman is our gatekeeper against corruption, but I don’t remember any law empowering it or qualifying it to determine what departments or agencies of government should be abolished. That belongs to the Office of the President or Congress. While those who go before the ombudsman are often accused of “abuse of power,” the suggestion to abolish ARTA sounds like an over-reach on the part of the ombudsman. By itself, we could call it a “one off” but we recall that this is the same person who declared that government officials don’t have to show their annual Statements of Assets and Liabilities or SALN to any Filipino who wants to see it except with a court order. Whatever his reasons may be, I just hope that Ombudsman Martires would heed the call of so many sectors to cooperate and respect ARTA for the role it plays. Certain LGUs and political appointees don’t like being censured by the ARTA and, in the same way, the same goes for the Office of the Ombudsman. I believe cooperation and courtesy are in order.