OPERATIONS of e-sabong will continue alongside the ongoing investigations on the possible violations of its implementing rules and regulations and the case of the missing “sabungeros.”
This was contained in a memorandum issued by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea last Tuesday addressed to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. Chair Andrea Domingo, PNP chief Dionardo Carlos, and National Bureau of Investigations officer-in-charge Eric Distor.
It also directed the PNP and NBI to investigate and submit to the Department of Justice within 30 days the results of their probes on the missing “sabungeros.”
Pagcor was directed to conduct an investigation on possible violations of the e-sabong agreements, including compliance with the security and surveillance requirements under its Regulatory Framework for E-Sabong Off-Cockpit Betting Station, such as the installation of CCTV systems.
“Unless otherwise directed, the operations of e-sabong licensees shall remain unaffected, pending the results of the above investigations,” the memorandum said.
Medialdea issued the directive following Senate Resolution 996 that urged Pagcor to suspend the license to operate of e-sabong operators and to immediately stop all activities related to e-sabong until the cases of the missing “sabungeros” are resolved.
Pagcor raised the suspension issue with Malacanang, citing possible loss of revenue if the suspension is implemented. Revenue from e-sabong was estimated at P400 million per month last year.
At least 34 persons linked to e-sabong activities have been reported missing since April last year.
6 FACE CHARGES
The PNP assured the public that it is continuing its investigation on the missing sabungeros.
“As we have stated during the Senate inquiry on the missing cockfight gamers, rest assured that the PNP is on top of the investigation,” PNP public information office chief Brig.
Gen. Roderick Alba said in a statement.
“The probe of the cases has been ongoing and important pieces of evidence continue to be gathered,” added Alba.
Carlos ordered the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to look into the case as early as January after reports about the missing sabungeros began to surface.
The CIDG, meanwhile, is set to file charges this week against six suspects involved in the alleged abduction of six “sabungeros.”
PNP spokesman Col. Jean Fajardo said the suspects, all security personnel of Manila Arena (cockpit), were identified by a witness as among those who seized the victims last January 13.
“We have good news. Anytime this week, the CIDG will be filing charges in connection with the missing cockfight enthusiasts in Manila Arena,” Fajardo said in a radio interview.
“The (CIDG probers) have a vital witness who executed a sworn statement that he saw how the six victims were allegedly abducted and boarded to (a) van in Manila Arena,” added Fajardo.
Fajardo said investigations are still ongoing to identify the other perpetrators of the abduction and those who masterminded the crime.
Fajardo said the suspects, who were not identified, will be charged with kidnapping and serious illegal detention.
“They were named and positively identified by the vital witness to be among the security personnel of Manila Arena,” Fajardo said, adding the witness personally knows the victims “because he has worked with them before.”
Fajardo said some of the soon-to-be charged suspects have appeared before the CIDG and denied any participation in the disappearance of the “sabungeros.”
“The witness saw the actual abduction of the missing sabungeros who were later loaded into a van,” said Fajardo. The van was later caught by a close-circuit television going out of the Manila Arena.
Meanwhile, the tandem of presidential candidate Sen. Panfilo Lacson and vice-presidential aspirant Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Pagcor, on its own, can suspend the licenses of the seven online cockfighting or e-sabong operators in the country instead of waiting for Malacanang to do it.
Lacson issued the remark after Malacanang thumbed down a recommendation from the Senate urging Pagcor to suspend e-sabong operations pending the resolution of the case of the 34 missing sabungeros or cockfight aficionados.
“If you have the power to grant licenses, you also have the power to suspend,” Lacson said in a press conference during their visit to Pasig City.
The Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs chaired by Sen. Ronald dela Rosa has held two hearings on the issue to get updates on probes being held by law enforcement agencies.
During the first hearing, the Senate issued a resolution urging Pagcor to suspend e-sabong operations, which a representative of Pagcor said they do not object to.
Dela Rosa even reported to Sotto that President Duterte has agreed to the suspension, but Pagcor, during the second day of hearing, said the President has yet to issue an order.
Sotto said what the Senate asked was a mere suspension of e-sabong, not “revocation” of the licenses.
“The disappointment of the Senate cannot be compared to the disappointment of the families affected by the disappearances but also the families who are problematic with their relatives hooked on e-sabong,” Sotto said. — With Victor Reyes and Raymond Africa
