Senator Joel Villanueva has voiced his opposition to using online cockfighting, known as e-sabong, as a replacement revenue source for the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) that are set to cease operations by the end of the year.
Villanueva, who has been a strong advocate for an outright ban on online gambling since filing a bill in September 2022, argued that the social costs of gambling far outweigh any potential income. He emphasized the need for the government to seek legitimate, legal, and sustainable sources of revenue rather than resorting to harmful alternatives like e-sabong.
“While POGOs have been linked to human trafficking, torture, and scam operations that primarily affect foreigners, e-sabong is far worse because it directly targets Filipinos from all walks of life,” Villanueva said. He also pointed out that despite being banned in May 2022, nearly 800 e-sabong operators were still active as of February, according to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
Villanueva highlighted the failure of the government to collect taxes from e-sabong operators and winners, noting the significant social harm caused by the practice, including the disappearance of some 30 cockfighting enthusiasts. He urged the government to enforce a total ban on online gambling to protect Filipinos from falling into financial ruin.
The House Committee on Games and Amusement has approved a bill to ban e-sabong operations and called on the Philippine National Police to enforce President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 2022 executive order suspending all e-sabong activities.