The Palace on Tuesday ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct a joint investigation into the case of at least 34 missing cockfighting aficionados.
Executive secretary Salvador Medialdea signed a memorandum directing the PNP and NBI to submit their findings to the Office of the President and Department of Justice within 30 days.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) was also ordered to look into possible violations of its e-sabong licensees.
However, Malacanang has allowed “e-sabong” operations to continue despite calls from senators to stop the operation of online sabong due to the case of the missing sabungeros.
“Unless otherwise directed, the operations of e-sabong licensees will remain unaffected, pending the result of the above-mentioned investigations,” Medialdea said in a memorandum dated March 8, 2022.
At least 34 persons linked to e-sabong activities have been reported missing since April last year.
Pagcor revealed that online cockfighting had been earning at least P640 million from operations since January this year.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday said the NBI has uncovered a lead in its ongoing investigation into the missing “cockfight enthusiasts.
“I am confident that the NBI and the PNP (Philippine National Police) will soon come up with positive results. It is improbable that 34 persons in strikingly similar situations would disappear without a trace,” Guevarra said.
Even before Tuesday’s memorandum from the Palace, Guevarra had issued an order to the NBI to investigate the disappearances.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III expressed disappointment at the Palace decision to let online cockfighting continue.
“The disappointment of the Senate cannot compare to the disappointment of the families affected,” Sotto said in a press conference in Pasig City.
“When I say families affected, I’m not only referring to those who have missing relatives but also those who complain about their kin who are getting addicted to e-sabong. It’s a double disappointment for them,” he said in Filipino.
A Senate resolution signed by 23 senators urged Pagcor to suspend e-sabong until the cases of the missing sabungeros are resolved.