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Duterte sorry for allowing e-sabong operations

Philippines | National

Duterte sorry for allowing e-sabong operations

By Joseph Pedrajas

Outgoing President Duterte has apologized for allowing the operations of e-sabong that led to addiction just like in the case of illegal drugs.

Duterte said he did not realize that Filipinos could be drawn into it as he was not a gambler. He explained, he only wanted to generate income for the government from e-sabong taxes amid the Covid-19 crisis.

The President made the apology during the inspection of the main campus of the National Academy of Sports on Tuesday in Tarlac, where he discussed for the nth time the threats of illegal drugs.

“Kaya ‘yung (That’s why the) e-sabong, I’m sorry I did not really realize that it could be like ,” he said.

“The moving factor there was naimbyerna kasi ako (I was frustrated),” he added.

Duterte said “sorry that it had to happen” and that he realized it “very late.”

“Hindi ko naman akalain na ganon (I didn’t expect it to be that way),” he added.

In early May, Duterte ordered the immediate termination of e-sabong operations after learning of its negative impact on the people.

Yung amin lang sana buwis lang ang ihabol namin dito sinabi ko na sa inyo. 640 million (We’re just after the tax like what I said. P640 million tax),” Duterte said during his pre-taped public address aired last May 3, 2022.

“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.

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