E-sabong operations may lead to arrests, DILG warns  

E-sabong stations may now have to close up due to President Rodrigo Duterte’s order issued on Tuesday, May 3, stopping its operations as the high-revenue gaming sector has drawn the disappearance of more than 30 persons involved in the games, as well as its negative impact on the social life of the public.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said that violators will face arrest and be charged.

In an ANC interview, DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Maya said that continuing the e-sabong would be “illegal” and defying its suspension may face arrest.  “It should end today, when the president made his announcement that to us is already a presidential directive because it was made in a public statement,” said Malaya.

“So, yesterday we already started implementing it and we are thankful that some of the betting stations have stopped operation already and in fact, Mr. Atong Ang gave a public statement also that they are complying with the president’s order so we expect that today all betting stations are closed and all operations of e-sabong will stop,” he added.

The department has estimated about five-million e-sabong players in the country, for which they also urge to just shift back to the traditional cockfighting, noting that the traditional “sabong” may be held on definite times, such as on a Sunday or during a holiday.

“You don’t get to bet 24 hours a day, so those people who will be displaced by the e-sabong can just go back to the traditional face-to-face sabong which is allowed under Alert Level 1. All you need is [an] authority from the local government unit,” said the DILG undersecretary and spokesperson.

President Rodrigo Duterte recently halted the e-sabong operations upon the suggestion of DILG Secretary Eduardo Año.