TIME was when betting in a cockfight or sabong was based purely on trust and honesty. The bet collectors were called “Kristo.” Kristos soliciting bets from all corners of the arena from people they hardly knew is a common sight in every cockpit.
But we are now living in the age of modern technology, even cockpit operators have to start leveling up. Now, they are employing cash registers and computers in their betting and recording system. And the funny thing is that those machines are now being used by the Criminal Investigation Detection Group in accusing the operator of the Coliseo de Manila of engaging in the banned electronic sabong.
Last week, elements of the CIDG, without any search warrant to show, raided the Coliseo de Manila, a cockpit arena in Vitas, Tondo and arrested 170 individuals, including 28 employees of the said establishment.
And up to now, CIDG elements are said to be posted at the cockpit arena, effectively barring any cockfights to be held even if the establishment has complete permit to operate, according to one Alvin de Leon, a staff of Coliseo de Manila. The cockpit has been in operation since 2022.
De Leon insists the CIDG failed to recover any evidence linking them to e-sabong operations. And with no material evidence, the Manila City Prosecutors Office issued a “referred for further investigation,” or RFI, which led to the release of all 28 staff of the Coliseo.
The staff of the cockpit arena has in fact turned the tables on the CIDG. Aside from accusing them of conducting an illegal raid, as they have failed to coordinate with the local government of Manila, the staff are accusing CIDG of taking money from the cash registers and prized fighting cocks.
So, the question now is, does the CIDG really have any evidence the Coliseo de Manila is truly engaged in e-sabong or none at all? Meron ba o wala?
k k k
Why consumers should not be paying a tax that should be gone:
Over the weekend, a friend sent me a discussion paper on why we should be enjoying cheaper electricity from power generated by natural gas.
According to the paper my friend sent, Republic Act 12120, or the Philippine Natural Gas Industry Development Act, is explicit in its mandate: The purchase and sale of indigenous natural gas, as well as electricity generated from it, are exempt from VAT — leaving no room for discretion or delay in its implementation.
And I agree. The intent of the law is clear and immediate: to reduce electricity costs for Filipino consumers by ensuring that cheaper, locally sourced fuel translates directly into lower generation charges across all modes of procurement, including bilateral contracts and the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market.
With the policy framework having long been complete, as the Department of Energy’s implementing rules took effect in April 2025 and the Bureau of Internal Revenue issuing Revenue Regulations in March 2026 to operationalize the VAT exemption, there is no reason why this should not be implemented.
Given that systems for identifying and accounting for indigenous natural gas are already in place, applying the VAT exemption should be immediate, transparent and verifiable across the supply chain.
Unfortunately, despite this, the VAT exemption on power generated from indigenous natural gas remains largely unimplemented – an outcome that is both unacceptable and difficult to justify.
I see no reason why the DOE should delay the implementation of the exemption which will be helpful to consumers given the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East that drive global fuel prices. The DOE itself has warned that the ongoing war will inevitably put upward pressure on power generation costs in the Philippines.
It should move decisively and take full responsibility for enforcement by issuing clear directives, setting firm timelines and ensuring compliance among all industry participants. Power generators and suppliers, including First Gen and other concerned entities, must likewise act without delay to align to make sure that all VAT-related savings are fully and promptly passed on to consumers.
At its core, this issue is about fairness, accountability and public trust, as consumers should not be made to wait for benefits that have already been granted to them by law.
Filipino consumers deserve immediate relief, and any further delay in implementing the VAT exemption is both unjust and indefensible.