MANILA, Philippines — The Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs wants the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) to explain why some e-sabong or online cockfighting firms were operating during the Holy Week.
Senator Francis Tolentino disclosed during Monday’s hearing of the committee that e-sabong operations were allowed last Good Friday.
“If Pagcor is listening, I took note of the fact that several Pagcor casinos were closed out of respect for the Good Friday commemoration. Pero ang nagre-regulate hinayaan ‘yung nire-regulate na magbukas at mag-operate. There were even e-sabong activities last Good Friday,” said Tolentino in his opening statement.
(The regulator lets the ones it is regulating to open and operate.)
“Pero (But) there was gross violation of our faith. I don’t know why it was done. Probably Pagcor slept on its job. Pagcor probably forgot that they are supposed to regulate as they claimed they are regulating,” he stressed.
READ: Senate panel moves to halt e-sabong; Pagcor okays suspension
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, committee chair, said that they will ask for an explanation from the agency.
“This committee would like to seek the feedback coming from Pagcor why this happened,”he said.
Tolentino said that more time would be needed to draft a legislation that would “reflect not just the needs of the times but even our deeply rooted character as a Christian nation.”
“Just for the record, Mr. President, it would take us probably several more hours or even weeks or months to really craft a legislation for the 19th Congress which would reflect not just the needs of the times but even our deeply rooted character as a Christian nation. ‘Yun po ‘yung kulang, ‘yun po ‘yung nawala dito — ‘yung tradisyon,” the senator said.
(That is what is lacking and missing here — tradition.)
The Senate panel has been investigating e-sabong activities after 31 cockfight enthusiasts disappeared.