MANILA, Philippines - Kinasuhan ng graft sa tanggapan ng Ombudsman ang matataas na opisyal ng Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) dahil umano sa pagkabigo nilang maipatigil ang online cockfighting o e-sabong sa off-track betting (OTB) stations na may malaking epekto sa horseracing industry.
Sa 14-pahinang reklamo ng Anti-Trapo Movement of the Philippines (ATM) sa pangunguna ng founder nitong si Leon E. Peralta, bigo sina Philracom Chairman Andrew Sanchez at anim pang commissioners na protektahan ang horseracing industry na isang umanong paglabag sa Republic Act No. 3019 o Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Kapwa akusado ni Sanchez sina Commissioners Bienvenido Niles Jr., Wilfredo De Ungria, Victor Tantoco, Jose Gutierrez Santillan Jr., Lyndon Noel Guce at Ramon Bagatsing Jr.
“The allowance of online sabong in OTBs negated the growth of horseracing and prevented the full exploitation of the sport as a source of revenue,” dagdag ni Peralta.
Bunga nito, nawawala anya sa pamahalaan ang may P350 milyong pondo na sana’y nakolektang buwis mula nang simulan ang operasyon ng e-sabong sa OTBs noong December 2015.
“We are filing this complaint not only to help the government recover much-needed revenues but also to support President Duterte’s campaign against illegal gambling, because we believe that online sabong is illegal,” dagdag ni Peralta.