PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. on Sunday lauded the Police Regional Office 7 (PRO7) headed by Brigadier Gen. Roderick Augustus B. Alba for its successful crackdown against underground ‘e-Sabong’ games in the region.

According to the top cop, a week-long aggressive drive by the PRO7 netted a total of 283 persons involved in ‘e-Sabong’ activities.

Citing a report from Brig. Gen. Alba, the PNP chief said that from December 5 to 10, the persons arrested by the PRO7 amid its crackdown on ‘e-Sabong’ in the region include 276 gamers, three tellers, two referees and two operators.

Those operations led to the confiscation of P155,779 in cash bets, eight computers and 52 cellphones. The PRO7 also filed 109 cases for violation of
Presidential Decree 1602 or the anti-illegal gambling law in relation of Section 6 of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 against the apprehended suspects.

“The PNP supports PAGCOR in implementing the instructions of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr to continue enforcing the nationwide suspension of all e-sabong activities and shutdown of all online infrastructure that patronize these illegal activites,” Gen. Azurin said.

At the same time, he reminded all 17 Police Regional Directors and their respective Provincial Directors as well as the director of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Brigadier Gen. Ronald O. Lee to strictly implement his directives on stopping all illegal gambling activities in their respective areas of responsibility.

“Tulong-tulong tayong sugpuin ang mga operasyon ng iligal na pasugalan sa bansa alinsunod sa kautusan ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. upang mailigtas natin sa pagkakalulong sa sugal ang ating mga kababayan na nabiktima ng e-sabong na ito,” thg PNP chief said.

PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group director, Brig. Gen. Joel B. Doria said that from May 3 to date, they have monitored the presence of 98 websites dedicated to ‘e-Sabong’ although 82 of them have already been deleted. There were also a total of 31 deleted ‘e-Sabong Facebook accounts, 19 deleted ‘e-Sabong’ Facebook Groups and 14 delete ‘e-Sabong’ Facebook Page during the period.

The official said his cyber patrollers are continuing to monitor 16 similar websites, 40 Facebook accounts, 5 Facebook Group accounts and 3 Facebook Pages. He said that these websites and accounts are subject to deletion already.

The daily monitoring of the illegal ‘e-Sabong sites’ being undertaken by the PNP-ACG was ordered by the top cop amid complaints about the continuing existence of the banned games in some social media sites in the country.

The PRO7 director said they have launched a massive crackdown on illegal ‘e-Sabong’ joints in the region following an order from Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ C. Abalos Jr. and Gen. Azurin.

“We are going all-out against personalities involved in underground e-Sabong operations in Central Visayas despite the suspension of all e-Sabong games ordered by PAGCOR last May 4,” he said.

Gen. Azurin has also ordered a strict ‘One-Strike and No-Take Policy’ when it comes to all forms of illegal gambling activities in the country since he took over as the top cop last August 4.