DESPITE a government ban, illegal online cockfighting, or “e-sabong,” continues to operate in parts of the country, senators revealed during a joint hearing of the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement.
Sen. Raffy Tulfo presented what he said was real-time livestream footage of an ongoing e-sabong match during the hearing, demonstrating that online betting on cockfights remains accessible to the public.
The presentation stunned members of the panel, as e-sabong operations were ordered suspended in 2022 amid mounting concerns over criminal activities linked to the industry, including kidnappings and disappearances.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, who co-chaired the hearing, also showed an active e-sabong website that, according to him, was still accessible as recently as Tuesday.
However, he noted that the site appeared to have gone offline shortly after news of the Senate inquiry spread.
“It was active yesterday,” Gatchalian said, suggesting that operators may have temporarily shut down their platforms in response to the investigation.
Tulfo questioned why authorities have failed to dismantle the illegal operations despite their apparent visibility online.
“Why are they not being stopped and arrested when law enforcement agencies know about these activities?” Tulfo asked during the hearing.
The senator alleged that the livestreamed e-sabong match he presented is linked to a gambling kingpin based in Central Luzon who had been operating as recently as last year.
Tulfo went further by mentioning the surnames of individuals he claimed are behind illegal e-sabong operations in several regions.
He identified “Pineda” as allegedly operating in Region III (Central Luzon) and Region IV, and “Bernos” as allegedly involved in operations in Abra province in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
No immediate responses were issued by the individuals mentioned as of press time.
‘Small fry’ vs big operators
Tulfo lamented what he described as uneven enforcement of anti-illegal gambling laws, saying authorities appear to focus on small-time gambling activities while major operators continue to evade arrest.
He cited examples such as “tupada” (local cockfighting), “cara y cruz,” and “tong-its” — games commonly targeted in police raids — as compared to large-scale, technology-driven e-sabong networks.
“Authorities can catch guerrillas or small-time gambling operations, but the big-time operators are not being caught because they have big names,” Tulfo said.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and law enforcement agencies have previously maintained that e-sabong remains prohibited and that efforts are ongoing to curb illegal platforms.
However, senators said the latest findings indicate that enforcement gaps persist.
The Senate panel is expected to continue its inquiry and may recommend stricter monitoring of online gambling platforms, possible amendments to existing laws, and stronger coordination among regulatory and law enforcement bodies to prevent the resurgence of e-sabong operations.
