Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 18) — The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Wednesday it has already requested the takedown of identified illegal online cockfight betting or e-sabong sites as the agency vowed to step-up efforts to end such operations in the country.
PCol. Jean Fajardo, the PNP’s spokesperson, told reporters they have already requested service providers to take down the initially identified sites, but added it may take at least two weeks for that to happen.
She also said police have yet to identify the individuals behind the illicit operations.
“We have to understand na internet-based ito [that this is internet-based],” she said in a press briefing. “We have to really coordinate doon sa [with the] service provider to find out and establish the identity nung mga nag o-operate [of the operators].”
On Tuesday, the PNP said it would step up efforts to end e-sabong operations after the country’s gaming regulator flagged a number of sites running illegally.
In a statement, PMGen Valeriano De Leon, the PNP’s Director for Operations, mandated all commanders on the ground to intensify their operations, saying they “should not permit guerrilla-style activities of e-sabong by unscrupulous individuals and groups.”
Earlier this month, President Rodrigo Duterte said revenue collected from e-sabong operations was not worth the social damage from these activities.
READ: Duterte stops e-sabong operations
The PNP said it received reports from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) regarding e-sabong sites still running despite Duterte’s order.
These sites are pinassabong.live; pclive1.com; sabong-express.net; phbetting.live; goperya.com; phbet44.bet; phbet.bet; and phbetr.bet.
De Leon said PNP continues to work with Pagcor to find other illegal e-sabong websites.
“We are appealing to the e-sabong operators to immediately suspend their illegal operations. Otherwise, you will face serious problems in the future when e-sabong operations resume,” he said. “Baka magkaroon pa kayo ng [You may be penalized with] perpetual disqualification.”
He also stressed that the organization will ensure “no PNP personnel are engaged in e-sabong operations, either as players or as collectors of protection money.”
Eight police officers have so far been administratively and/or criminally charged over involvement in the online betting game, including one who robbed someone at gunpoint due to gambling addiction, according to Fajardo.
She noted that of the eight, one was dismissed, two were suspended, while the rest are undergoing summary hearing proceedings.
