Lawmakers Reject Revival of E-Sabong Amid POGO Ban Fallout

Pro-administration members of the House of Representatives have expressed strong opposition to the revival of online cockfighting, or “e-sabong,” despite calls to compensate for revenue losses following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s ban on Philippine Overseas Gaming Operations (POGOs).

Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., and Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop emphasized that the same issues plaguing POGOs—such as disappearances, abuses, and corruption—were also prevalent in e-sabong, thus warranting its continued prohibition.

The debate around e-sabong began with former President Rodrigo Duterte’s legalization of online gaming in 2017 through Executive Order No. 13, which aimed to “strengthen the fight against illegal gambling” while authorizing the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) to license online gaming establishments, including e-sabong and POGOs.

Online cockfighting resumed in April 2021 but was banned by Duterte in May 2022 after the disappearance of 30 cockfighters, many from Abante’s district in Manila, who were believed to have accumulated debts from e-sabong operations.

Abante was quoted as saying in an Inquirer report published on August 8: “Any form of gambling promotes corruption. I disagree that it helps with economic development. Look at Malaysia and the UAE, which ban gambling, but they are rich nations.”

Fernandez echoed his sentiments, stating, “If we replace e-sabong with POGOs, it’s the same banana. I think Filipinos can survive without either of them. Just let it be, and one day we would be able to recoup our losses from the POGO ban.”

Acop added, “E-sabong has affected so many homes because many breadwinners have been incurring debts to the point that they are no longer able to provide for their families. It’s the same gambling addiction.”

Although there are no proposals in Congress to revive online cockfighting, OFW party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino suggested that PAGCOR legalize e-sabong to help recover losses from the POGO ban. During the House committee on appropriations briefing for PAGCOR’s proposed 2025 budget, Magsino argued that e-sabong was “still happening everywhere,” implying that legalizing it would be more beneficial than leaving it in the shadows.

PAGCOR Chair Alejandro Tengco reported that from April 2021 to April 2022, PAGCOR generated P6.2 billion in e-sabong revenues. In 2023, PAGCOR’s revenues reached P79.37 billion, even without e-sabong, surpassing the previous year’s income of P58.96 billion by P20.41 billion. Tengco acknowledged that the government would lose P7 billion to 7.5 billion due to the POGO ban but noted that more than P70 billion in revenue would remain.

“I brought up this concern with Congress and the Senate because the loss seems such a waste, but then again, there are also social consequences,” Tengco said.

Regarding the potential revival of e-sabong, Tengco stated, “We have studied it and have a few suggestions. We believe we can enhance the structure or the guidelines. But until a law or an order from the President of the Philippines comes out, our hands are tied.”

“Only if there is an enabling law allowing it to come back, then that’s the only time we can exercise our jurisdiction over e-sabong,” Tengco concluded.

Read related article: PCSO Urged to Consider Using e-Sabong to Offset Revenue Loss from POGO Ban

Source: Inquirer.net