Sotto: Senate ‘disappointed’ with Palace decision allowing continuous e-sabong operations

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday expressed disappointment with Malacañang’s order allowing the continuous operation of online sabong despite a strong call from senators following the case of the 34 missing “sabungeros.”

“The disappointment of the Senate cannot compare to the disappointment of the families affected,” Sotto said in a press conference in Pasig City.

“When I say families affected, hindi lang ‘yung may nawawalang mga kaanak, ‘yung mga nagrereklamong pamilya dahil namomroblema sila sa kanilang kapamilya na nalululong sa e-sabong. Double disappointment kaysa sa amin,” he added.

(When I say families affected, I'm not only referring to those who have missing relatives but also those who complain about their kin who are getting addicted to e-sabong. It's a double disappointment for them.)

Proposed Senate Resolution 996, which was signed by at least 23 senators, was filed last week, urging PAGCOR to suspend online sabong's license to operate and stop all activities related to it until the cases of the 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.

Despite the Senate's call, Malacañang has allowed "e-sabong" operations to continue and ordered the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into the case of the missing sabungeros.

The law enforcers are tasked to submit a report within 30 days.

Sotto said it will be “useless” to make an appeal before Malacañang, hitting the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) for bringing its apparent opposition to the Senate resolution before President Rodrigo Duterte instead of just heeding the call of the lawmakers.

“It will be useless. Sapagkat sa totoo niyan, ako ay nalulungkot na ang PAGCOR dinala pa sa Presidente ang usapin samantalang puwede ‘yon aksyunan. What does it say? Ayaw nila,” Sotto said.

(I am saddened that PAGCOR has brought this issue to the President instead of taking action on our call. What does it say? They don’t want it [suspension of operations].)

He recalled his conversation with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea last week, where he was informed that the President was waiting for PAGCOR’s recommendation as well as the copy of the Senate resolution.

“Eh ano kaya obviously ang rekomendasyon ng PAGCOR? Ang tingin namin, based on the law, puwedeng sila [ang mag-suspend]. Suspension lang e. ‘Di naman revocation of license e. Suspension lang ang hinihingi namin. Kaya it’s within the power of PAGCOR,’ he said.

(Obviously, what is the recommendation of PAGCOR? We thing that based on the law, they could suspend it because it is just a mere suspension not revocation of license. We are just asking for a revocation and it's within the power of PAGCOR.)

“So, the mere fact na pinarating nila sa President ang usapin eh alam niyo na na ayaw nila,” he added.

(So, the mere fact that they brought it before the president it means that they really don't want to suspend t.)

Senator Panfilo Lacson also backed Sotto’s statement, explaining that since PAGCOR has the power to issue a license, they are also allowed to suspend it.

“Kung ikaw mayroong power na mag-license, may power ka rin to suspend. Kaya nu’ng tinanong namin ang PAGCOR kung ano ang magiging recommendation nila just in case makausap nila si Presidente, hindi makapagbigay ng categorical answer. So ibig sabihin, ang recommendation nila ayaw i-suspend,” he added.

(If you have the power to ssue a license, you also have the power to suspend. That's why when we asked PAGCOR what will be their recommendation in case they will talk to the president, they cannot give a categorical answer. That means their recommendation is not to suspend the license of e-sabong.)

Senator Ronald dela Rosa, citing the police, earlier said the number of missing sabungeros is now at 34.

Last Friday, PAGCOR chairperson Andrea Domingo said there will be possible loss in revenue collections as well as the possible legal charges that may be filed against them should they suspend the e-sabong licenses arbitrarily.

She added that PAGCOR just wanted to be assured of some “protection” from President Rodrigo Duterte 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. — RSJ, GMA News