CEBU CITY — A police official here admitted that it would be a challenge to catch policemen who are into online cockfights or “e-sabong.”
Lt. Col. Wilbert Parilla, deputy director for operations of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), said patronizing “e-sabong” is something that can be done discreetly.
“They can engage in e-sabong in their homes through cellphones or computers,” Parilla said.
Parilla said CCPO personnel have been reminded that they are strictly prohibited from engaging in online cockfighting and other forms of gambling.
Gen. Dionardo Carlos, chief of the Philippine National Police, has warned that smartphones and gadgets of policemen would be checked to make sure they are not addicted to online cockfighting.
Carlos issued the warning amid a Senate inquiry into the case of missing "sabongeros" or cockfighters.
Parilla said the CCPO has yet to receive reports that there are missing e-sabong aficionados in the city.
The CCPO is also awaiting official directives to suspend e-sabong operations in the city.
“We will coordinate with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. Once we receive an order suspending e-sabong operations, we will help in monitoring or implementing the order,” said Parilla.
He said the CCPO has already collated the number of e-sabong outlets in the city.
Parilla confirmed that after e-sabong outlets opened in the city, the CCPO received several complaints from wives that their husbands became addicted to this form of gambling.
“There was an incident wherein the wife struck her husband with an umbrella after the money intended for their daily consumption was spent by the man for e-sabong,” Parilla said.
Most of those who patronize e-sabong in the city are taxi drivers and construction workers, Parilla said.