Cockfight. INQUIRER.net stock photo
GENERAL SANTOS CITY, South Cotabato, Philippines — The Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the information arm of the Philippine government, has started conducting a survey on the controversial e-Sabong, or online betting on live cockfighting matches.
Ramon Lee Cualoping III, PIA director general, required the agency’s regional offices to conduct a quick response survey on stakeholders’ experience and views on e-Sabong.
“As part of our agency’s research support for policy making within the executive branch, all regional offices are hereby directed to conduct data gathering … on online E-Sabong,” read the memorandum issued by Cualoping, a copy of which was obtained by the Inquirer.
In May 2022, then-President Rodrigo Duterte ordered a stop to online cockfighting, noting that it was against Filipino values and had destroyed families whose members were addicted to e-Sabong.
Duterte said he had heard stories of people pawning their possessions so they could bet on online cockfighting.
Months before, the Senate recommended the suspension of e-Sabong following an investigation into the April 2021 disappearance of at least 30 cockfight enthusiasts.
The PIA survey kicked off on Tuesday, Nov. 29. It would end on Monday, Dec. 5. Here is the survey link: Quick Response Survey on Online Cockfight or E-Sabong.
According to a survey briefer, the answers “will be kept in strict confidence and all information collected will only be used for the purpose of the research.”
The survey involves asking for the region, province, or city where the respondents live, their birthday, age, and educational attainment.
PIA-Soccsksargen confirmed receiving the directive from the central office on Thursday.