SOME 283 individuals have been arrested in Central Visayas as part of the PNP’s intensified campaign against e-sabong or online cockfighting from December 5 to 10.
Citing a report from Central Visayas Police Director Brig. Gen. Roderick Alba, PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said 276 of those arrested were gamers while three were tellers, two were referees and two were operators.
Azurin said P155,779 in bets were confiscated, along with eight computers and 52 cell phones.
Charges of illegal gambling have been filed against the suspects in court.
Last week, Azurin ordered police units to further intensify efforts against e-sabong, noting that guerilla e-sabong operations were still continuing seven months after President Duterte ordered it stopped last May due to its ill effects on families.
“The PNP supports PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) in implementing the instructions of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to continue enforcing the nationwide suspension of all e-sabong activities and shutdown of all online infrastructure that patronize these illegal activities,” said Azurin.
Azurin reiterated his instructions to regional and provincial police directors as well as the director of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to strictly implement his directive to stop all illegal gambling activities in their respective areas of responsibility.
