Pro-administration Senator Francis ‘’Tol’’ Tolentino on Friday, March 11 said the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) could have violated the law because they allowed the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) to issue online cockfight or "e-sabong" franchises.
The legal opinions of DOJ and OSG giving PAGCOR the go-signal for the operation of e-sabong usurped the legislative powers of Congress to allow agencies such as Pagcor to give franchises, Tolentino pointed out.
Tolentino said this violates Article 239 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), which imposes jail terms and fines on those who usurp powers of Congress.
Because of the legal opinions of DOJ and OSG, Pagcor authorities said they issued licenses to e-sabong operators.
One of the licensees, Charlie ‘’Atong’’ Ang, had admitted before the Senate Public Order and Dangerous Drugs Committee chaired by Senator Ronald dela Rosa that his Lucky 8 firm grosses P1 billion to P2 billion a day or close to P60 billion a month.
Deducting his five percent commission and other expenses, Ang said he nets about P900 million a month or approximately P10.8 billion a year.
To Tolentino, it is clear that PAGCOR has no jurisdiction to regulate e-sabong based on Presidential Decree (PD) 1869 and Republic Act (RA) 9487 on Pagcor's own charter.
While Pagcor receives a huge chunk from the gross receipts of e-sabong operators, still there are many bad effects of e-sabong on society, critics pointed out.
A few of those addicted to e-sabong gambling have committed suicide or found themselves deep in debt, or have committed crimes.
For unknown reasons, 34 "sabongeros" (cockfight aficionados) were reported missing or kidnapped.
Because some of those persons were reported missing since last year, Dela Rosa feared that they could have been "liquidated".