Duterte denies favoring e-sabong suspension, says PAGCOR chairman

President Rodrigo Duterte has denied favoring the suspension of online cockfighting or e-sabong operations, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation chairman Andrea Domingo said Friday, citing information from Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

Domingo made the remark after Senator Ronald dela Rosa, chair of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs investigating the case of missing “sabungeros,” questioned PAGCOR’s stand on the suspension of the e-sabong licenses.

Dela Rosa said if he is the chair of PAGCOR, he would go to Malacañang to raise his concern on the disappearance of cockfight enthusiasts.

Domingo then mentioned that she has already asked Medialdea about reports saying  Duterte had already agreed to suspend the license to operate of e-sabong firms.

“Tinanong ko po sa Executive Secretary, ‘Sir, pumayag po ba talaga ang President na i-suspend ang operations according to the news reports?’ Kung sinabi ni ES ‘yon isu-supinde po namin kaya lang po ang sabi po ni Executive Secretary: ‘Tinanong ko si Presidente diyan, Andrea, sabi niya wala siyang sinasabing ganon.’ So paano po ang gagawin namin?” Domingo told Dela Rosa.

The lawmaker stood by his personal conversation with Duterte last Sunday, saying the President has already agreed to suspend these licenses.

“So, ako ngayon ang sinungaling? Ako ang kausap mismo ni Presidente, sinabihan ako niya ng ‘Sige, sige, sige.’ Ako ngayon ang sinungaling?” Dela Rosa asked.

“Ibig sabihin, Sec. Medialdea would like to make me appear na, being the chairman of this committee at personally nakiusap kay Presidente, ako ngayon ang sinungaling?” he went on.

Prior to this exchange, Domingo expressed reservation on the suspension of e-sabong operations until the cases of missing sabungeros are resolved, citing loss in revenues and possible legal charges against PAGCOR.

Last week, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, citing information from Dela Rosa, said Duterte has agreed to suspend the licenses of online cockfighting pending the resolution of the cases of missing cockfighting enthusiasts.

Proposed Senate Resolution 996, signed by at least 23 senators and filed last Monday, urges PAGCOR to suspend online sabong's license to operate and stop all activities related to it until the cases of missing sabungeros are resolved.

To be covered are the existing e-sabong licenses of Belvedere Vista Corp., Lucky 8 Star Quest Inc., Visayas Cockers Club Inc., Jade Entertainment And Gaming Technologies, Inc., Newin Cockers Alliance Gaming Corp., Philippine Cockfighting International Inc. and  Golden Buzzer, Inc.

At the early part of Friday's hearing, it was reported that the number of missing sabungeros is now at 34.

Further, Dela Rosa and Domingo also argued over PAGCOR’s hesitance to heed Senate’s call to suspend the e-sabong operations

Domingo accused the panel of not only urging the PAGCOR but “commanding” them.

“There’s a difference between urging and ordering us. When you say urging , sinasabi n’yo discretion namin. Pag po discretion namin, ang laki po ng sagutin namin sa COA at sa korte,” Domingo said.

The lawmaker pointed out that PAGCOR would find ways to suspend e-sabong operations if they agree with the Senate's call.

"Sana gawan ninyo ng action 'yan kasi alam ninyo pag mayroon pang mawawalang tao dito dahil sa e-sabong, I don't know how can we face the people kung bakit may nawawala na naman dahil sa e-sabong," Dela Rosa said.

But Domingo argued that the law enforcement agencies should be blamed if there will be more cases of missing cockfight afficionados because of the continuous operations of e-sabong.

“Kung may mawawala pa siguro po managot na talaga ang law enforcement agency,” Domingo said.

Dela Rosa immediately cut Domingo, slamming the latter for “passing the buck.”

“Ayun na. Pinapasa na natin 'yung problema e. Pinapasa mo na naman sa law enforcement agency. Kayo nga ang may primary juridiction over e-sabong, ngayon ayaw n'yong i-suspend. Kung may mawala na namang tao ipasa sa law enforcement. So pasahan na tayo dito ngayon. We’re passing the buck,” Dela Rosa said.

But Domingo argued that it is not their mandate to catch those behind the missing sabungeros.

“So, sino po ang mag-iimbestiga at manghuhuli, kami po?” Domingo asked Dela Rosa.

In response, Dela Rosa said: “Hindi nga kayo ang nanghuhuli but you’re the one regulating. Paano sila makakapag-operate kung wala silang license to operate galing sa inyo na kayo ang nagbibigay?”

Senate President Vicente Sotto III cut the heated exchange and told Domingo that the “bottomline” is PAGCOR was against the suspension.

“May dahilan kayo bakit hindi puwede. Therefore, ayaw ninyo. ‘Yun lang 'yon e. Now the position of the Senate is to strongly urge you na makisama kayo sa investigation, suspend ninyo muna tingnan niyo may mga sisingaw diyan. Ganoon ang sinasabi namin. E ang sinasabi ninyo e ayaw ninyo. 'Yun na 'yon,” Sotto said.

Domingo explained they just want “protection” from Duterte because they are afraid of liabilities before the Commission on Audit and the courts.

“Kasi po malaking kawalan nga ng pera, loss of revenues. May mga auditing rules po diyan at may mga contractual obligations kami,” she reiterated.

“Pag po sinabi ni Presidente ‘sige,’ at least po mayroon kaming protection,” Domingo explained.—AOL, GMA News