Rep. Eddie Villanueva of CIBAC party-list group lauded the House of Representatives committee for the approval of a bill that prohibits and penalizes the operations of online cockfighting or e-sabong.
The yet unnumbered substitute bill to House Bills 9996 and 10307 which was approved recently by the House Committee on Games and Amusements prohibits any online, remote, or off-site wagering or betting on live cockfighting matches, events, and activities streamed or broadcast live from cockpit arenas or premises.
The bill prohibits e-sabong operations, invalidates all existing permits issued by the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), and directs the monitoring and blocking of any existing or emerging e-sabong platforms.
The measure also prohibits transmitting, placing, or receiving online betting on live-streamed cockfights, or broadcasting of the same through online or other remote modes of betting.
Villanueva, author of HB 10307, emphasized the measure is crucial to protect Filipinos from the harmful effects of online gambling, which has led to financial ruin, family conflict, and even criminal activities.
