E-sabong draws mixed reactions from presidential bets

Cockfighting was one of the Filipinos’ favorite past time. INQUIRER.net STOCK PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines —E-sabong, or online cockfighting, drew varying opinions from the five presidential aspirants who attended the presidential forum organized by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) on Friday.

During the KBP’s “Panata sa Bayan” forum, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Senator Manny Pacquiao both said that they are in favor of regulating online gambling, which is currently no longer under the ambit of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor).

During the “Panata sa Bayan” forum, presidential aspirants were asked by a KBP chapter in Central Luzon about the candidates’ stance on e-sabong, given that some aficionados who were beset by financial problems were lured into gaming.

Moreno said that if the e-sabong would continue to persist even with legal questions surrounding it, then the government should just regulate it so that state actors and authorities can monitor it.

“Kung talaga siyang problema, legal or illegal, eh mananatili siyang problema at mag-eexist siya kahit na siya ay iligal, mano pa, all these things must be regulated at pumasok pa sa awtoridad ng pamahalaan para nang sa gano’n lalo natin ma-regulate, mabantayan kung paano sila nagko-conduct ng business,” Moreno said.

“Kasi with or without regulation, it seems, based on question, na ito ay nag-eexist, kaya mano dapat pumasok ang estado sa sitwasyon na ito.  So I would rather put them in a legal manner or under the authority and under the supervision of the state,” he added.

Pacquiao on the other hand noted that since cockfighting has been a part of the country’s culture, the government should just work to regulate it and ensure that only qualified individuals can join these games.

“‘Yon pong online sabong, ‘yong sabong po sa bansa natin ay kulturang Pilipino po ‘yan, kailangan po nating i-regulate, at ma-manage nang husto ng ating gobyerno na lahat ng naglalaro ay may sapat na na kakayahan, hindi ‘yong mga bata na pumapasok at nagsusugal d’yan,” Pacquiao said.

“Ituro na lang po natin sa kanila ‘yong disiplina sa sarili kung paano nila i-manage ‘yong sarili nila, i-manage ‘yong financial nila, ‘yong income nila.  Kaya po hindi po ako pabor sa pagsara ng e-sabong,” he added.

On the other hand, labor leader Leody de Guzman said that giving e-sabong franchises would not be a priority of his government, and that he would be better off focusing on other more pressing issues like environmental and health concerns.

“Hindi ako sang-ayon dyan sa online sabong, ang dami nang kwento ng nasiraan ng ulo, nagpakamatay dahil dyan sa sugal na ‘yan, dapat nating alisin ‘yan at mag-focus tayo sa mga mas produktibong bagay na makakatulong sa ating mga mamamayan,” he said.

“I-focus natin ang kanilang enerhiya hindi sa pagsusugal, kung hindi sa pagtulong sa ating mamamayan para tayo’y maka-recover dito sa ating kinakaharap na problema sa kabuhayan at problema dito sa kalusugan, and at the same time, problema natin sa klima,” he added.

Meanwhile, Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Panfilo Lacson both expressed apprehensions for online gaming, citing the need for more discussions on the topic.

“Kung ako ang tatanungin mo, hindi ako agree sa anything na makaka-cause ng addiction sa atin, lalo na sa ating mga kabataan, dahil ito sagabal hindi lang sa kanilang pag-aaral pero sagabal ito sa kanilang growth as a young people, ito ay nakaka-affect sa values system natin,” Robredo explained.

Robredo however noted that it is not up to her to deliberate if e-sabong would be allowed as it is Congress which grants the franchises.

“Ako unang-una, hindi kasi ako ‘yong mag-grant ng franchise, kun’di Congress.  ‘Yong sa akin lang, kailangan pag-usapan ito nang maayos sa Kongreso, pakinggan ‘yong lahat ng apektado, hindi lang ‘yong nag-aapply ng franchise kun’di ‘yong community na maapektuhan,” she said.

Lacson said Congress should look into the “social cost” of allowing e-sabong to flourish.

“Ito’y dapat masusing pag-aralan bago bigyan ng legislative franchise, tignan nating mabuti ‘yong social cost na nakapaloob dito, ‘yong posibleng tax, pangalawa na lang ‘yon eh, napaka-importante ‘yong security no’ng ating mga pamilya no, sabi ko nga, ‘yong mga paslit, ‘yong mga wala pa sa edad, nakaka-taya rito.  So tignan natin’g mabuti ito,” said Lacson.

Lacson also cited that the discussions on e-sabong over the Senate are currently pending as he will ask questions on the issue, as they have learned that there are people who have taken their own lives after drowning in debt.

“Napag-alaman namin na isang ama ng tahanan sa Pampanga no, natalo ng P600,000, nag-commit ng suicide.  Marami pang istoryang ganyan — pending po ‘yong legislative franchise ng e-sabong sa Senado, hindi po natuloy ang pag-sponsor dahil nag-signify ako na mag-i-interpellate ako,” he noted.

“Gusto kong malaman kasi may social problem, may social cost, mga OFWs tumataya, mga bata, tumataya.  Pagkatapos walang magre-regulate kasi inalis na sa puder ng Pagcor ‘yong e-sabong,” he added.

Last September, the House of Representatives approved a 25-year franchise for an e-sabong firm, but not without discussions during congressional hearings.  Some lawmakers raised the same issues — families wrecked due to gambling addiction, high debts per individual, and having young children join the games.

EDV