The National Police (PNP) on Thursday pledged to intensify its operations against the resurgence of illegal online cockfighting, or “e-sabong,” following a surge in “guerrilla” platforms operating despite a nationwide ban.
PNP Chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. issued the directive to all police commanders, from city to municipal levels, to assist the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) in identifying and dismantling these underground networks.
“We in the PNP 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,” Nartatez said in a statement. “But we continue to take all these difficulties as a challenge to further improve and come up with new measures to address the problem.”
The move comes a day after the Senate Committee on Games and Amusements criticized law enforcement agencies for failing to eliminate the illegal industry.
During a Wednesday hearing, Senator Raffy Tulfo presented live footage of ongoing e-sabong matches and accused authorities of incompetence, questioning the use of the PNP’s P1.3 billion intelligence fund.
Authorities noted that while major platforms were shut down following the 2022 ban, operators have shifted to “guerrilla” tactics.
These involve the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), offshore hosting services, and encrypted messaging apps to bypass local monitoring.
Nartatez has ordered police units to track illegal livestreams and gather intelligence on the financiers and operators behind the platforms.
He also issued a stern warning to police personnel, stating that any officer found protecting or participating in e-sabong operations would face administrative and criminal charges.
E-sabong was officially banned in May 2022 by then-President Rodrigo Duterte, a policy maintained under the current administration.
The ban followed widespread public outcry over social issues linked to the gambling platform, including the still-unsolved disappearance of over 30 cockfighting aficionados.