Senator Raffy Tulfo on Monday, February 9, publicly identified two major online cockfighting (e-sabong) operators in Central Luzon and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), highlighting alleged weaknesses in law enforcement oversight during a Senate hearing.
During the Senate Committee on Games and Amusements session, Tulfo questioned the capabilities of agencies tasked with regulating e-sabong, including the PNP-ACG, NBI, PAOCC, and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC). He presented an actual video of ongoing e-sabong operations in Central Luzon to emphasize the ongoing activity despite supposed monitoring.
“Ipinakita ko kung paano aktibo ang operasyon ng e-sabong sa kabila ng kanilang mandato,” Tulfo said.
When asked to identify major operators in the regions, officials from these agencies admitted they were unaware, except for a Bulacan-based operator named by NBI’s Palmer Mallari. In response, Tulfo publicly named the two key operators: a Central Luzon gambling figure with the surname Pineda and a Cordillera/Abra politician with the surname Bernos.
Tulfo challenged the law enforcement agencies to prove that they are not allies of these operators by immediately shutting down their e-sabong sites. “Habang nagtataas tayo ng tanong sa Senado, tuloy pa rin ang operasyon ng mga ito,” he said, pointing to the boldness of the operators allegedly backed by connections with authorities.
The senator criticized the agencies for prioritizing minor cases, such as street gambling and small-scale illegal games, while failing to act against the 24/7 operations of Pineda and Bernos. “Nakakabilis silang manghuli ng mga naglalaro sa kanto, pero ang malalaking operasyon ay hindi nila kayang ipatigil,” he added.
Tulfo urged immediate enforcement action to curb e-sabong operations, describing the unchecked activities as a blatant disrespect for the law and a threat to public accountability.
The hearing signals growing congressional scrutiny on online gambling, especially its alleged ties to local politicians and influential figures, and raises questions about the effectiveness of current monitoring mechanisms in key regions.
