PNP to act vs e-sabong operators

MANILA, Philippines — Police will take action against e-sabong operators who continue to defy the order of President Duterte stopping the operations of online cockfighting.The Anti-Cybercrime Group is looking at how illegal operators are circumventing Duterte’s directive stopping e-sabong, Philippine National Police (PNP)  Directorate for Operations head Maj. Gen. Valeriano de Leon said in a statement yesterday.

Upon instructions of PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr., De Leon said all police commanders were ordered to intensify operations against e-sabong operators.

“We should not permit guerrilla-style activities of e-sabong by unscrupulous individuals and groups,” he said.

De Leon made the statement after the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) said the online sabong websites are still running illegally despite Duterte’s directive.

Pagcor e-gaming licensing and regulation vice president Jose Tria said they monitored the online sabong websites pinassabong.live, pclive1.com, sabong-express.net, phbetting.live, goperya.com, phbet44.bet, phbet.bet and phbetr.bet.

De Leon stated that they are coordinating with Pagcor to find other online cockfighting websites.

He warned policemen not to get involved with e-sabong, either as players or collectors of protection money.

De Leon also warned e-sabong operators to suspend their activities as they could face perpetual disqualification if online sabong is allowed to operate in a regulated capacity.