Online Cockfighting in Davao, Philippines

The councilor of Davao City (located in the southern island of Mindanao in the Philippines), Danilo Dayanghirang, is recommending that the city government allow the operation of online sabong or cockfighting.

“We will start a committee hearing on online cockfighting because some cannot seem to stop playing the game. Regarding the mayor’s opposition to sabong, that is not a problem because this will be all online. People won’t be infected with the coronavirus because they will do it online.”, said by the councilor in a radio interview.

As the committee chairperson of the games and amusement, he defended the recommendation to allow the operations of online sabong as it will address the clamor of bettors to allow the resumption of sabong and at the same time provide additional revenue for the city. Under Presidential Decree 449, also known as the Cockfighting Law of 1974, cockfighting is a legal and regulated activity in the Philippines.

Dayanghirang also stated that online cockfighting is a safer route for the enthusiasts considering that it prevents them from gathering in one place. Therefore reducing possible Covid-19 transmission.

In addition, he also stated, “We thought of this to generate additional revenue. If we could generate more money, we could help our indigent constituents by giving them a bag of rice, purchase additional medicine, and even additional vaccines. We need to find resources for continuous service to the public.”

To read more about the online cockfighting in Davao, Philippines, check out: https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1891373/Davao/Opinion/Editorial-Online-sabong