If the Executive Department does not suspend or stop "e-sabong" (online cockfighting) operations, it must at least subject it to strict regulation to address its social costs, presidential candidate Senator Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson on Thusday, March 17 said.

Lacson said the social costs of e-sabong might be intangible but would cause major problems as Filipinos - from children to policemen - become addicted to it.

"At least man lang strict regulation. Huwag 24 hours (At least subject e-sabong to strict regulation. Making sure it does not operate 24 hours would be a start)," he said at a press conference in Maddela, Quirino yesterday

"Dapat mahigpit regulatory authority ng PAGCOR( Philippine Amusement and Gaming Authority) should be strict in exercising its regulatory authority)," he added, noting the online nature of "e-sabong" makes it hard to monitor.

He added the social cost is too high, with overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) not being able to come home due to gambling debts or parents having to pay the debts their addicted children incur.

There have also been reports of people committing suicide due to e-sabong, and policemen robbing convenience stores to pay off debts, he added.

"Ito ang hindi tangible pero lumalabas na may nangyayaring actual problema sa e-sabong (These are not tangible but they show there is a problem with e-sabong)," Lacson said, adding the P1.6 billion in revenues a day come from ordinary Filipinos addicted to e-sabong.

Earlier, Lacson said there are many ways to generate much-needed revenues - including better implementation of tax laws, and revisiting existing laws like the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

He noted he had sought to introduce an amendment to the TRAIN law where more than 100 exemptions to the Value-Added Tax would be reduced - but was outvoted at the time.

Another way to generate the needed revenue is to digitalize all government processes and transactions, to ensure there is little room for human intervention - and corruption, he explained.

Senators recently urged President Duterte to suspend the operation of ‘e-sabong’ operations while the Senate public order and dangerous drugs committee continues its hybrid investigation into the disappearance of 34 ‘sabungeros’ (cockfight aficionados).

During the committee hearing, Charlie ‘’Atong’’ Ang, one of the seven ‘e-sabong’ licensees, admitted that his firm grosses a maximum of P2-billion a day or P60-billion a month from online cockfighting operations.

Deducting five percent from P60-billion, Ang’s profits is P3-billion a month. He said this figure is reduced after deducting commissions for his agents and other expenses.

PAGCOR authorities had refused to heed requests of senators to suspend ‘e-sabonhg’ operations. They stressed the need for a suspension order from Malacañang to avoid suits from their own licensees.