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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PNP steps up drive vs resurgence of e-sabong

PNP steps up drive vs resurgence of e-sabong

Published Feb 12, 2026 12:18 pm
The Philippine National Police (PNP) vowed on Thursday, Jan. 12, to further intensify the operations against online cockfighting, popularly known as e-sabong, amid reports of the resurgence of the illegal gambling activity.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr. said that while police forces, particularly the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG), has been conducting operations to take down online platforms hosting the e-sabong, there are serious challenges due to evolving nature of cybercrimes.
“We in the Philippine National Police remain focused in the campaign to stop all forms of illegal gambling. In the case of online sabong, there are difficulties that are faced along the way, especially with the evolving nature of cybercrimes,” said Nartatez.
“But we continue to take all these difficulties as a challenge to further improve and come up with new measures to address the problem,” he added.
Senators earlier raised concerns over the resurgence of online sabong. Sen. Raffy Tulfo for instance showed during a Senate hearing a live streaming of e-sabong.
The e-sabong was already banned but the PNP continues to monitor its guerrilla operations online. Several online sites were already taken down as part of the anti-gambling efforts.
Nartatez said he already tasked police commanders down to the cities and municipalities to provide assistance to the ACG in terms of monitoring and intelligence-gathering as to the sources of the live feeds in their respective areas of responsibility.
He said the ACG and the Intelligence Group (IG) have been working together in tracking and shutting down illegal e-sabong operations to rid the country of all forms of illegal gambling.
They are specifically instructed to trace livestreams, identify operators using sophisticated networks of VPNs and offshore hosting, and gather actionable intelligence to support coordinated cyber and ground raids.
“It may look like a simple livestream to the public but behind those links is a sophisticated network of VPNs and offshore hosting. But if these are available to people, then there is no reason to track them down,” he said.
Aside from taking down sites being used for e-sabong, Nartatez said they are also focused on identifying the financiers and operators of the online illegal gambling platforms.
He also urged the public, particularly the netizens, to assist in the campaign by providing information on the matter, even as he warned all personnel not to be involved in this kind of illegal activity in any way.
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