Online cockfighting
UNDOUBTEDLY, tough-talking President Duterte, whose six-year administration ends at 12 noon on Thursday, June 30, has apparently bowed to public outcry.
This, after the outgoing Chief Executive from Davao City in impoverished Mindanao stopped all online cockfighting games, otherwise known as “e-sabong,” in the country.
Duterte issued the order after the Department of the Interior and Local Goivernment (DILG), headed by Secretary Eduardo Ano, conducted a survey on e-sabong.
After the survey, Ano recommended the stoppage of online cockfighting, citing reports that it has become a target of illegal schemes, like kidnapping and corruption.
Ano, a former four-star military general, said that online cockfighting was taking a heavy toll on values and causing a negative impact on Filipino families in the country.
DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said that “now is the right time to stop the operations of e-sabong ” since people, regardless of age, have become addicted to the game.”
Malaya said that minors were even willing to commit crimes just so they could place bets on e-sabong games.
“E-sabong has so many repercussions in our community, including mental health issdues and degradation of family relationships,” according to the DILG undersectary.
And in bending to the will of the people, many of them poor, President Duterte demonstrated anew his readiness to make not so popular decisions but far-reaching moves.
Maraming sugalero ang ayaw sa desisyon ni Pangulong Duterte pero mas marami ang pabor dito.
