THE PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) wants operators of online cockfighting or “e-sabong” prosecuted and punished under Presidential Decree 1602 or the anti-gambling law.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame, police chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr said the ACG also wants to penalize internet providers which continue to host or fail to take down or block e-sabong websites.
Online cockfighting was banned by former President Duterte in May last year, as recommended by the Department of Interior and Local Government, due to its ill effects on families.
President Marcos Jr. issued an executive order last December extending the suspension of all e-sabong activities throughout the country.
“The PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group has recommended inclusion of e-sabong to illegal gambling activities penalized under Presidential Decree 1602 and sanctions against service providers that will fail to block or takedown e-sabong websites,” said Azurin.
“It should be noted that e-sabong websites hosted outside the Philippines can only be blocked, not taken down, as these sites can continue to operate via virtual private network,” he also said.
Azurin said at least 102 platforms catering to e-sabong activities have been either blocked or taken down, 76 other platforms were deleted or deactivated, and 39 e-sabong websites and a Facebook page have been rendered inactive and out of service.
He also said the PNP is currently monitoring 272 platforms for e-sabong activities — 146 websites, 67 Facebook accounts, 31 Facebook groups, 18 Facebook pages, and 10 mobile applications.
PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo said including e-sabong as an offense punishable under PD 1602 is timely because of its continued prevalence.
“If you are going to review PD 1602, it did not specifically mention e-sabong. PD 1602 is a 1978 law. We want it (e-sabong) to be specified so we can really address (the problem),” said Fajardo.
Prohibited under PD 1602 are gambling activities, including jueteng, where wagers consisting of money, articles of value or representative of value are at stake or made.
Fajardo said e-sabong personnel and bettors who have arrested have been charged under PD 1602 in relation to Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of of 2012.
“This time, we want to pass a specific law addressing e-sabong. If there is a law (including e-sabong), it’s better, so that the penalty will be clearer,” she also said.
