The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) renewed its call for the local government units (LGUs) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) to strictly monitor and assist the concerned authorities in apprehending illegal electronic-sabong (e-sabong) or online cockfighting operators.

“We are urging our city and municipal governments in the region to closely coordinate with and provide assistance to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and Philippine National Police (PNP) to ensure the compliance of the suspension of e-sabong,” DILG CAR Director Araceli A. San Jose said.

In December 2022, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order No. 9 Series of 2022 for the continued suspension of all e-sabong operations, including auxiliary e-sabong activities.

San Jose enjoined the CAR LGUs to strictly implement the pertinent provisions of the suspension of the activities relating to e-sabong like live-streaming or broadcasting of cockfights inside and outside the cockpits or cockfighting arenas or in any premises “where cockfights are being held including online betting on cockfighting matches, events, activities streamed or broadcasted live, regardless of the betting platform.” 

“The PNP is also directed to implement appropriate actions against any violator in accordance with the rule of law,” she added.

In May 4, 2022, PAGCOR issued a notice and guidelines on the suspension of e-sabong operations following the verbal order of then president Rodrigo Duterte. This, after a series of reported disappearances of bettors and operators happened from 2021 to 2022.