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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'E-sabong' hurts STL earnings, says solon; PCSO chief agrees

'E-sabong' hurts STL earnings, says solon; PCSO chief agrees

Published Aug 31, 2022 10:32 am


"E-sabong" or online cockfighting is a hindrance to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office's (PCSO) revenue-generating activities.

Cockfighting (putakputak.com)


Manila 6th district Rep. Benny Abante highlighted this point when PCSO officials led by its chairman, Junie Cua, faced the House Committee on Appropriations Tuesday, Aug. 30.

"Naniniwala ako (I believe) that the PCSO would not want to have e-sabong in this country. Of course the e-sabong is an exclusive franchise of Pagcor (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation)," said Abante, a former pastor, during his interpellation of Cua.

"I think that one of the greatest effect in which the PCSO did not get much revenue from gambling is because of e-sabong," claimed the veteran lawmaker-slash-pastor.

According to Abante, e-sabong tends to compete with Small Town Lottery or STL, one of the revenue-generating games held by PCSO.

"I think there is an effect. May effect po itong e-sabong sa STL natin sapagkat parehas na digital yan eh (E-sabong has an effect on STL, since they're both digital)," the former House minority leader and deputy speaker said.

He then asked Cua, his former House colleague, for his opinion. "Palagay po niyo? (What do you think?)"

"Sa ating pananaw, naniniwala ako doon sa sinabi niya na kung mag-proliferate ang e-sabong, makaka-apekto sa STL. Kasi siyempre habang yung pera na dapat pumunta sa STL eh pumupunta sa e-sabong, mababawasan yung STL (In my view, I believe what you said that STL would be affected by the proliferation of e-sabong. It's because the bets that are supposed to go to STL, end up with e-sabong instead)," he noted.

"So I think I agree with what Bishop Benny has said, as a consequence of allowing e-sabong to proliferate. So wag niyo na payagan para hindi kami mahirapan (So please don't allow it so that we won't have difficulties)," Cua said.

In one of his last directives in office, former President Rodrigo Duterte ordered a halt to all e-sabong operations in the country last May. This was due to the series of disappearances of dozens of sabungeros or e-sabong players.

"I overheard kanina na (earlier that) we would like more people to be interested in betting on some PCSO game. But if we are going to let e-sabong proliferate in this country, we're not going to have more revenues for PCSO," Abante stressed.

The PCSO is mandated to raise money and provide funds for health programs, medical assistance and services, and charities of national character.

It does so by carrying out charity sweepstakes, races, and lotteries.

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