MANILA – Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco reiterated that the government has no intention of reviving online sabong (cockfighting) operations.
“I want to make this clear, and ulitin ko po ito: Wala pong marching orders ang Pangulo, sa pagre-reopen ng e-sabong (I want to make this clear, and I will repeat it: The President has no marching orders for the reopening of e-sabong),” Tengco emphasized during an interview with reporters on Tuesday.
Tengco dismissed circulating rumors regarding the potential revival of the online gambling platform, stating, “There is no such thing. People have been going around, but definitely, e-sabong is not on the horizon or in the mind of the President at this very moment.”
The suspension of online cockfighting operations was initially ordered by former President Rodrigo Duterte in May 2022. Following this, President Marcos issued Executive Order No. 9 in December 2022, directing the continued nationwide suspension of e-sabong.
The executive order specifically halts the live streaming or broadcasting of cockfights outside authorized cockpits or designated cockfighting arenas. Additionally, it suspends online or off-cockpit betting on these events, regardless of the platform used for streaming or wagering.
The implementation of the order tasks PAGCOR with coordinating efforts among local government units, relevant government agencies, and private entities to ensure compliance with the nationwide suspension.
“There is an EO suspending operations, so we will follow and await the instructions of the President. PAGCOR has not spent time studying the revival of e-sabong,” Tengco concluded.