A Catholic prelate said the country needs spiritual recovery and not more vices like e-sabong during this time of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos said this as he thumbed down online cockfighting which is gaining popularity in the country.

"What we need in this time COVID-19 is spiritual recovery, moral ascendancy, not promotion of vices and proliferation of any form of gambling," he said in an interview Tuesday.

"This online sabong will never be blessing to our country, as it will only be source of problems in the community and division in the family," added Santos.

The prelate said gambling erodes "societal moral fiber and gives wrong values to our youth."

Bishop Santos expressed hope that the country's lawmakers will "enact laws which will serve our people and save our country, not because of money nor to satisfy one's addiction."

Last month, Santos also opposed the plan to construct a cockpit in Samal, Bataan.

In a pastoral directive dated October 15, Santos described the plan as a "disgrace" at a time when there is a pandemic.

"It is such a disgrace and very disappointing to know that in this critical time of the coronavirus pandemic, there are people who are planning to construct a cockpit in Barangay Imelda in Samal," said Santos.

"Will that cockpit help our people, especially in the middle of a pandemic when people are even struggling to put food on their tables? Absolutely not," he added.

The prelate said the planned cockpit will only be a new "breeding ground" for the horrible virus of gambling addiction and greed. 

Bishop Santos said the cockpit will also endanger family values and stir the curiosity of the children to follow suit. 

The House Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda (Albay, 2nd district) earlier approved in principle House Bill No. 7919, which would impose new taxes on offsite betting on locally licensed games, including electronic betting on cockfighting, locally known as “sabong.”