Duterte apologizes for late realization on ill effects of e-sabong
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte apologized on Tuesday for his late realization of the ill effects of e-sabong or online cockfighting.
“Kaya ‘yung e-sabong, I’m sorry I did not really realize that it would be like—akala ko kasi ‘yung ano—the moving factor there was naimberna kasi ako P640 million a month tapos so many billions a year because marami nag-o-operate,” he during the inspection of the National Academy of Sports in Tarlac.
(With the e-sabong, I’m sorry I did not really realize that it would be like—I thought—the moving factor there was P640 million a month, and many billions a year because many firms were operating.)
“Kaya ’yun ang naano ko, I realized very late and I am very sorry that it had to happen. Hindi ko akalain na ganu’n, hindi naman ako nagsusugal. I do not gamble. I do not drink anymore, only water,” he added.
(I realized very late and I am very sorry that it had to happen. I did not think that it is like that, I do not gamble. I do not drink anymore, only water.)
READ: 23 senators ask Malacañang, Pagcor to suspend e-sabong operations
Despite earlier calls to halt the activity amid the disappearances of e-sabong enthusiasts, the president did not immediately order to halt its operations as it generates P640 million in revenues per month.
He then ordered to stop e-sabong operations in May following the recommendation of Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, citing its social impact on the public.
Based on a survey conducted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, 62 percent of the over 8,000 respondents wanted to end e-sabong, 34 percent favored the activity but with stricter regulation, and four percent fully backed it.
READ: Duterte stops ‘e-sabong,’ cites survey by DILG
Respondents who opposed e-sabong cited “addiction to gambling, bankruptcy of players, indebtedness, cost to family, neglect of work and studies, and crime” as reasons why they want to halt the activity.
