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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DICT shuts down 53,000 e-sabong sites

DICT shuts down 53,000 e-sabong sites

Published Sep 8, 2025 03:25 pm
(JEL SANTOS/MB PHOTO)
(JEL SANTOS/MB PHOTO)
A total of 53,000 online cockfighting or e-sabong sites have been taken down by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Secretary Henry Aguda said Monday, Sept. 8.
“53,000 online e-sabong sites na ang na-take down. So iyan ‘yung takedown powers ng DICT, CICC, kapag nakita naman namin na illegal, kaya na namin i-takedown ‘yung URL (53,000 online e-sabong sites have already been taken down. That’s the takedown power of DICT and CICC; once we see that it’s illegal, we can already take down the URL),” he said during a press briefing at the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) office in Quezon City.
“Syempre, ‘yung URL na ‘yan, illegal ‘yung URL, kapag tinanggal na namin, wala na (Of course, that URL is illegal, once we take it down, it’s gone),” he went on.
The Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is essentially the web address that directs your browser to a specific site or page.
Despite the crackdown, a study by Filipino research firm The Fourth Wall found that unregulated e-sabong operations remain active, using social media platforms like Facebook to promote games and invite players through groups and private messages.
The report warned that illegal operators continue to pose risks to players, as they operate outside the consumer protections imposed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor).
E-sabong was suspended nationwide in December 2022 under Executive Order No. 9, which banned all online and remote betting on cockfighting matches, including live-streaming outside licensed venues.
“There is an urgent need to reiterate the continued suspension of all e-sabong operations nationwide, clarify the scope of existing regulations and direct relevant agencies to pursue aggressive crackdown against illegal e-sabong operations, in accordance with law," the EO stated.
Under EO 9, the Pagcor must coordinate with LGUs, government offices, and private entities for its enforcement, with the DILG and PNP tasked to support the agency and penalize violators as provided by law.
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