PAGCOR chairman cautious about suspending e-sabong

PAGCOR chairman Andrea Domingo said a decision to suspend e-sabong operations amid the disappearance of 31 people linked to the industry would open the regulator to legal action.

The Philippines.- The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (PAGCOR) chairman Andrea Domingo has responded to calls for e-sabong operations to be suspended following the disappearance of 31 people. She voiced caution on the possibility, saying it could open PAGCOR to legal action.

Speaking at a Senate Public Order and Dangerous Drugs’ investigation, she said: “Although we do respect the resolution from 24 senators for us to suspend immediately eSabong operations, we stand at the peril of having to pay PHP640m while we suspend (the operations) without clear and legal basis.”

She added: “We would like to inform this honourable body that we did not go to ‘eSabong’ without careful and completed staff work with which we are also required to perform under a mandate from the Office of the President.”

Some 23 senators have signed Resolution No. 996 urging the regulator to immediately stop online cockfighting after 31 people related to the industry disappeared between April 2021 and January 2022.

A bill to tax online betting on sabong events held in legal cockpits was approved in November 2020. In May 2021, PAGCOR issued the first licences.