THE Department of Interior and Local Government yesterday lashed out at Facebook (FB) for its delayed approval of the government request to shut down at least eight accounts and pages allegedly involved in illegal e-sabong operations.
During the Laging Handa public briefing, Interior undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya said the inaction of FB is tantamount to being an accessory to an illegal activity.
Malaya said the DILG has written FB officials to request the closure of the eight accounts and pages, which the PNP has identified to be involved in online e-sabong games.
“We have yet to receive a response from Facebook about the request of the government to shut down these pages. Second, these (accounts and pages) are operating until now,” said Malaya.
Malaya said some of his staff members recently pretended to be bettors and sent messages to some of the FB pages and were given a link on how to place their bets.
“We are dismayed, we are disappointed because FB, they are usually fast in shutting down other pages but in this case, it’s as if they are tolerating illegal activity in the Philippines. It appears that they are an accessory to an illegal activity because Facebook is a venue for illegal activity which is illegal e-sabong,” he also said.
“As a business entity operating in the Philippines, Facebook has to abide by Philippine laws,” he stressed.
President Duterte ordered a stop to the operation of all e-sabong sites in the country last May 3 based on the recommendation of Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, who cited the ill effects of the online game to society.
Malaya said DILG lawyers will discuss the possible courses of action that the government can take in the event that FB officials do not grant their request.
In a later statement, Malaya reminded Meta Platforms Inc, parent company of FB, that “as a business entity operating in the Philippines, they are subject to Philippine laws, rules, and regulations and must comply with them at all times,” particularly citing the Cockfighting law as amended by Presidential Decree 1612.
