Poe: PAGCOR using Duterte as excuse to delay suspension of e-sabong licenses

Senator Grace Poe on Friday accused the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation of using President Rodrigo Duterte as an excuse to delay the suspension of e-sabong licenses.

In her opening statement during the Senate public order and dangerous drugs committee’s hearing, Poe explained that PAGCOR’s suspension of e-sabong licenses pending the resolution of the missing “sabungeros” case is “well within the tenets” of the state-owned corporation’s charter.

The senator cited Section 3(l) of the charter which states that PAGCOR has the power "to do anything and everything necessary, proper, desirable, convenient or suitable for the accomplishment of any of the purpose or the attainment of any of the objects or the furtherance of any of the powers herein stated… and to do every other act or thing incidental, pertaining to, growing out of, or connected with the aforesaid purposes, objects or powers, or any part thereof."

Hence, she said, suspending the e-sabong licenses is pursuant to its mandate of minimizing if not eradicating the evils, malpractices, and corruptions associated with gambling.

“Contrary to what was said last hearing, there is nothing in PAGCOR’s charter requiring them to seek authorization from the President for any action to proceed. While Section 7(e) of their charter gives authority to the President to direct and authorize the performance of other functions or duties, it does not mean that PAGCOR is not allowed to do anything without the President's permission,” Poe pointed out.

“I believe PAGCOR is using the President as an excuse to delay that decision,” she added.

In response, PAGCOR chairperson Andrea Domingo said they are duty-bound to respect and follow the chain of command.

She said they factored in the possible revenue loss as well as the possible legal charges that may be filed against them should they suspend the e-sabong licenses arbitrarily.

“We would like to inform this honorable body that we did not go into e-sabong without careful completed staff work which we are also required to perform under the mandate of the Office of the President,” Domingo said.

In defending their position, Domingo engaged in a heated argument with panel chairman Senator Ronald dela Rosa.

She explained that PAGCOR just wanted to be assured of some “protection” from the President  before they direct the suspension of e-sabong operations.

Citing information from Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Domingo also said Duterte has not agreed yet to the Senate resolution urging PAGCOR to suspend online cockfighting or e-sabong operations.

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.

Further, Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public services, said the issue of missing cockfighters should be resolved first before the franchise of Lucky 8 Star Quest could be tackled in her panel.

Lucky 8 Star Quest Inc., a firm owned by gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang, is one of the e-sabong licensees being questioned over the disappearance of the cockfight enthusiasts.

“As with most of our colleagues, it also disturbs me that four out of six cases happened in arenas being operated by the franchise applicant, Lucky 8 Star Quest Inc.,” Poe said.

“As chairperson of the committee on public services, it is my responsibility to make sure that the franchise applicants are free from any liabilities, among other requirements, prior to the grant of a franchise. Again, I believe in order to move forward, we need first to resolve these issues,” she added.

Poe also noted that under the proposed franchise, PAGCOR will remain as the primary agency responsible for the supervision and regulation of offsite betting on remotely broadcasted cockfighting matches.

“So, it is necessary that before we pursue any regulatory endeavors, PAGCOR should find resolution to these matters first,” she said.

“Nevertheless, the suspension of the licenses of e-sabong operators and the e-sabong franchise proceedings will allow us to concentrate on the resolution of the cases while ensuring that all stakeholders are on board,” Poe pointed out.

She said the suspension would also give the lawmakers more time to study the regulations needed for the e-sabong operations so they could create a law “that is not only leveraged on government revenue generation and regulation but also one which is conscious of and responsive to the social costs of gambling to the Filipinos.”

Last September 2021, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading the bill granting Atong Ang’s Lucky 8 Star Quest Inc. a franchise to operate anywhere in the Philippines offsite betting activities on duly-licensed cockfighting, derbies and similar activities through online or other modern means.

In an interview early this week, Dela Rosa said the senators are looking into transferring the authority to issue online cockfighting licenses from PACGOR to Congress.

In this proposal, licensees would need to seek a legislative franchise from Congress.

However, Senator Panfilo Lacson raised a possible constitutional issue if lawmakers issued a legislative franchise to online cockfighting.

“Ang isang malaking issue, major issue, ang sinasabi ng ating Konstitusyon ang puwede lang mag-apply ng legislative franchise, aside from the mass media, ay 'yung public utility,” Lacson earlier said.

(One major issue in this suggestion is that the Constitution only allows legislative franchises for public utilities aside from the mass media.)

“Ang unang tanong ko nga doon, ang e-sabong ba isang public utility (My first question there is: “Is e-sabong a public utility)?” he added.

The number of missing sabungeros is now 34, Dela Rosa said, citing the police.—AOL, GMA News