FILE PHOTO: Communications Secretary Martin Andanar. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / JOAN BONDOC
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has yet to issue an official order to finally stop the operations of e-sabong or online cockfighting, Malacañang said Wednesday.
Duterte on Tuesday ordered an end to e-sabong operations following the recommendation of Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, citing its social cost to Filipinos. According to Duterte, an order stopping e-sabong operations will come out by Tuesday.
“Sa ngayon wala pang official document na galing sa Malacañang Records Office [As of now there is no official document from the Malacañang Records Office],” acting presidential spokesman Secretary Martin Andanar said in a Palace briefing.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government warned violators of the directive to halt the operations of e-sabong will face arrest and risk being charged in court, saying games are now “illegal.”
Alternative sources of income
Duterte initially had been reluctant in suspending e-sabong operations, saying that the government needs the billions of pesos of revenues it generates.
However, with the order of closure, Malacañang said it “trusts” the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) to find alternative sources of income.
“As to the other sources of income. Tiwala po kami sa kakayahan ng Pagcor to generate new revenues [We trust Pagcor in its capability to find and generate new revenues],” Andanar said.