Taguig-Pateros Representative Alan Peter-Cayetano on Friday welcomed the suspension of online cockfighting (e-sabong) operations and licenses but called for the permanent closure of the said online industry.
His remarks came after a Senate probe on Friday moved to suspend the operations of e-sabong businesses due to cases of missing persons linked to the industry.
Cayetano, a staunch critic of e-sabong, said he is hoping the operations of online cockfighting businesses should be shuttered for good.
"I'm hoping itong pagtigil is not only temporary but permanent," the lawmaker said.
(I’m hoping this halt is not only temporary but permanent.)
According to Cayetano, the case of the missing persons is much bigger than the industry of e-sabong, and is the effect of internet gambling mixed with organized crime.
"Malaking problema ito. I think this is beyond the e-sabong. Ito 'yung mga epekto ng internet gambling pero … may konting organized crime na siguro rito," he said.
(This is a huge problem. I think this is beyond e-sabong. This is the effect of internet gambling but … with slightly organized crime that is maybe present.)
The lawmaker draws the line on making gambling, including cockfighting, virtual, and in the past has called out the lack of regulation over it.
"Kaya kung sa akin, pabayaan mo na yung mga sabungan sa bawat parangay, pabayaan mo na 'yung mga kasino … pero wag na tayong mag-online gambling," he said.
(So for me, leave cockfighting in every barangay alone, leave casinos alone … but let us not do online gambling.)
Meanwhile, Cayetano also expressed his gratitude to Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa for calling the probe on the missing persons, after he criticized the government over its "silence" on e-sabong linked cases.
