PHILIPPINE National Police’s (PNP) campaign against E-Sabong from July 1, 2022 to August 15, 2023 has resulted in the arrest of 1,245 suspects, 322 of them convicted by the court, PNP chief, General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. said on Tuesday.

The top cop said that the operations were conducted by various Police Regional Offices and PNP National Operational Support Units across the country.

Citing data from the PNP Crime Incident Reporting and Analysis System (CRAS) as of last August 17, the PNP chief revealed a significant stride in the campaign against e-Sabong activities nationwide.

He said that among the apprehended suspects, 437 cases have been referred to prosecutors, while 808 cases have been directed to courts for further legal action.

The report said that the Police Regional Office 7 under Brigadier Gen. Anthony A. Aberin apprehended the most number of e-Sabong personalities at 348.

The PRO7 said that 123 cases have been referred to prosecutors while 225 others have been forwarded to the courts for prosecution.

The PRO3, on the other hand, recorded 328 arrests. Of these cases, 170 were referred to prosecutors, and 158 are undergoing trial before the courts.

PRO13 director Brig. Gen. Kirby John B. Kraft on Tuesday said he and his five provincial directors and city directors down to their chiefs of police and other unit commanders have committed to strictly implement ‘zero operations’ of e-Sabong and other forms of illegal gambling in the whole Caraga region.

National Capital Region Police Office director Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said they are stepping-up their offensive against all forms of illegal gambling activities, including e-Sabong in Metro Manila.

The NCRPO chief has also implemented an ‘honest-to-goodness No-Take Policy’ in the metropolis.

PRO4-B director, Brig. Gen. Joel B. Doria also declared an all-out war against e-Sabong activities in the entire Mimaropa region.

The PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group headed by Major Gen. Romeo M. Caramat Jr. has also played an instrumental role in the crackdown, apprehending 200 suspects.

Out of these cases, 27 have been referred to prosecutors for legal proceedings, while 187 cases are poised for court action.

Last month, PNP-CIDG agents arrested 24 personnel of a clandestine ‘online sabong’ joint inside a farm in Laoac while conducting the banned game beamed live on Facebook.

Arrested inside the Camora Farm in Barangay Baligi in Laoac were 18 males and six females who were employed at the raided ‘online sabong’ facility either as announcers/disc jockeys, computer operators, cameramen, gaffers, ‘sentenciador,’ streamer, hitter, matcher, commentator, cook dishwasher or security personnel, the official reported to PNP chief, General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr.

The 24 came from different places in Laoac; Lucena City and Tayabas City and Pagbilao municipality in Quezon province; Sta. Ignacia, Tarlac; and Malabon City.

Among the evidence seized during the anti-illegal gambling operation were 676 live fighting cocks and 24 dead ‘panabong.’

A check showed that a group called ‘Global Talpakeros-Online Sabong’ encourages cockfighting enthusiasts belonging to different Facebook Groups to click and register at https:chillside77.

Gen. Acorda commended his men for their accomplishments in the crackdown against e-Sabong.

According to the top cop, Sec. Abalos has ordered them to intensify their operations against e-Sabong.

The directive underscores that Regional Directors afflicted by rampant e-Sabong activities will be held accountable for failing to curb the banned game.