Duterte declares: 'E-sabong will end'


President Duterte has ordered the immediate ending of e-sabong or online cockfighting operations after finding out its negative impact on the Filipino people.

Duterte said it was the recommendation of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec. Eduardo Año to do away with e-sabong.

It came after Año's office conducted an assessment on those engaged in e-sabong and confirmed what was earlier reported to the President that some enthusiasts end up not sleeping, among other reasons.

"Yung amin lang sana buwis lang ang ihabol namin dito sinabi ko na sa inyo. 640 million (We're just after the tax ike what I said. P640 million tax)," Duterte said during his pre-taped public address aired Tuesday, May 3.

"But may naririnig na ako (But I'm hearing) loud and very clear to me that it was working against our values and yung impact sa pamilya pati sa tao (and it has a negative impact on the families and the people)," he added.

On the same day he made the announcement, Duterte said: "E-sabong will end."