Malacañang urged stakeholders of online cockfighting to ask the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases for permission first before continuing with their innovation of the classic betting game commonly known as "sabong."
In his Monday press briefing, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said stakeholders of the upgraded cockfighting should first ask the IATF since sabong, in general, is still prohibited under any form of community quarantine.
"Kinakailangan ipagbigay alam po 'yan sa IATF (They need to inform the IATF first)," he said.
Roque recalled that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) took a stand to allow events in areas under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) to be held online as long as these would not involve mass gatherings that will make the enforcement of proper social distancing difficult.
"Sabi nila kung walang audience at MGCQ baka pupwede pero kinakailangan aprubahan pa po muna 'yan ng IATF (They said that they may allow it in areas under the MGCQ if there's no audience. But the IATF needs to approve it first)," he said.
"Yung mga proponents po ng walang audience na sabong na online, eh sumulat po kayo sa IATF (Proponents of online cockfighting that do not have a physical audience should write to the IATF)," he reiterated.
Based on IATF Resolution No. 56, cockfighting and cockpits, along with beerhouses, nightclubs, and similar establishments whose main business is serving alcohol, are still prohibited in all quarantine classifications.
While the said establishments have long been prohibited ever since the lockdown was declared in March, Roque said the said provision was included to stress the fact that they are still not allowed.
Spectators in outdoor events in any quarantine classifications are also not allowed based on the same resolution.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in its Memorandum Circular no. 20-22 Series of 2020 released last May, has classified beerhouses and nightclubs under Category IV industries or the industries that are not allowed to operate during the lockdown.
Among businesses originally under Category IV include personal care, fitness and sports facilities, places of entertainment, leisure, and amusement, and tourism.
However, under the IATF’s omnibus guidelines on the implementation of the different forms of community quarantine, the DTI is allowed to gradually re-categorize industries from Category IV to Category III as it may deem necessary.