Due to cases of missing 31 “sabungeros,” a Senate panel advocated issuing a resolution to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) suspending all e-sabong operators’ licenses.
According to Inquirer.net, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III proposed to Pagcor that the panel issue a resolution ordering Belvedere Vista Corp., Lucky 8 Star Quest Inc., Visayas Cockers Club Inc., Jade Entertainment And Gaming Technologies, Inc., Newin Cockers Alliance Gaming Corp., Philippine Cockfighting International Inc., and Golden Buzzer, Inc. to suspend their operations and existing e-sabong licenses. Senator Francis Tolentino also requested that the e-sabong payment system be temporarily removed from the GCash menu.
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa directed the committee to issue the resolution right away when no one protested.
Diane Erica Jogno, Pagcor’s Vice President of E-Sabong Licensing Department, who was present at the hearing, said Pagcor is fine with the suspension and will seek approval from the President’s Office to halt e-sabong operations in the country.
Since January, cockfighting fans known as “sabungeros” have gone missing. The Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation are already looking into the disappearances.