President Rodrigo Duterte has yet to suspend the operational licenses of online cockfighting or e-sabong, Malacañang said on Tuesday, contradicting Senate President Vicente Sotto III.
In a virtual presser, acting Palace spokesman Karlos Nograles said the Senate resolution recommending to suspend e-sabong needed to undergo screening by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor).
“Procedurally kailangan pa po natin ng Senate resolution to be sent to Pagcor then Pagcor to advise the Office of the President with regards to that,” Nograles said.
“As of the moment wala pa po tayong any indication na mayroon pong Senate resolution to that effect given to Pagcor or even to the Office of the President,” Nograles added.
The Senate recommended the suspension of e-sabong in the country after 31 individuals went missing allegedly due to cockfighting.
Sotto on Monday tweeted that Duterte supported the Senate’s recommendation.
“(Sen. Roland “Bato” de la Rosa) informed me that (Duterte) told him yesterday that he agrees!” Sotto said in a tweet.
The Senate president earlier said that the suspended e-sabong firms should remain closed until “we find an acceptable conclusion to what is happening.” John Ezekiel J. Hirro