House passes bills banning e-sabong, regulating cockfighting
A screengrab from a Facebook video posted in July 2024 shows an online cockfight or e-sabong.
MANILA, Philippines — Three bills seeking more stringent regulations for cockfighting operations — including a proposed measure that outright bans any activity related to online cockfighting or e-sabong — have been approved by the House of Representatives on third and final reading.
During the plenary session on Wednesday, House Bill (HB) No. 11254 or the proposed law to prohibit any activity related to online cockfighting was approved after 162 lawmakers voted in the affirmative, two in the negative, and no abstentions.
Online cockfighting or e-sabong was defined by the bill as the “online, remote or off-site wagering and betting on live cockfighting matches, events, and activities streamed or broadcasted live by, through, and with the use of Information and Communication Technology from cockpit arenas or at any other place.”
If enacted, the following activities are deemed unlawful if the bill is signed into law:
- Any online, remote, or off-site wagering or betting on live cockfighting matches, events, and activities streamed or broadcasted live from cockpit arenas or premises where the activity is being held
- Place, receive or transmit a bet or wager on live-streaming or broadcasting of live cockfighting matches, events or activities through online or other remote mode of betting
- Operate or maintain e-sabong betting platform.
Those found guilty of violating the provisions, should the bill become a law, will face imprisonment ranging from one year to 20 years, and a fine between P500,000 to P5 million.
“If the offender is an operator of e-sabong betting platform, or a recidivist, or the owner of a cockpit arena whether licensed/authorized or unlicensed/unauthorized, who shall knowingly allow the conduct of e-sabong related activities within the premises, the maximum penalty prescribed shall be imposed,” the bill read.
HB No. 11044 or the proposed amendments to Presidential Decree No. 449, which aims to strengthen local government units (LGUs) role in regulating cockfighting, was also approved after 155 lawmakers voted in the affirmative, five in the negative, and one abstention.
HB No. 11253 or the proposed Cockpit Regulation Law of 2024 was also approved, with 162 affirmative votes, two negative votes, and zero abstentions.
According to HB No. 11253, it will be illegal to collect and make bets, including constructing and managing cockpits, when these are located within a 500 meter radius of residential or commercial areas, schools and educational institutions, places of worship, and hospitals.
The following acts will also be deemed illegal if the bill is enacted:
- Approving, issuing, or facilitating in any manner the approval or issuance, of permits to construct, make or erect, cockpits, or other buildings, structures or facilities intended for holding cockfights, when such building, structure or facility to be constructed, made or erected is within the prohibited place
- Approving, issuing or facilitating in any manner the approval or issuance, of permits to conduct or hold cockfights in such cockpits, buildings, structures or facilities or other places prohibited under this Act
Penalties for “constructing, operating or managing a cockpit or other building, facility or structure intended for holding cockfights” that goes against the provisions will range from imprisonment of five years to seven years, and a fine between P500,000 to P1 million.
“Conducting cockfights in any place prohibited under this Act shall be punishable by imprisonment of not less than four years nor more than six years and a fine of not less than PhP400,000.00 nor more than PhP600,000.00, at the discretion of the Court,” HB No. 11253 stated.
“Betting or collecting bets in, or participating in any other manner in the conduct of, a cockfight conducted in any place in violation of this Act shall be punishable by imprisonment of not less than three years nor more than five years and a fine of not less than PhP100,000.00 nor more than PhP300,000.00, at the discretion of the Court,” it added.
HB No. 11044 meanwhile places the responsibility of issuing licenses to cockpits to the city or municipal mayor. The same bill also ensures that only Filipino citizens or partnerships and corporations whose 60 percent of shares are owned by Filipinos can own, manage, and control cockpits.
The current administration has taken a strong stance against e-sabong, with the Philippine National Police blocking over 2,400 websites linked to online cockfighting just from December 2022 to December 2023.
READ: Over 2,400 websites streaming e-sabong blocked — PNP
However, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. banning all Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) during his third State of the Nation Address in July 2024, there were concerns that e-sabong could make a return.
To ensure that e-sabong would not prosper again, several lawmakers suggested that off-cockpit betting should be adopted instead, which will also help offset financial losses due employment loss brought by the Pogo ban. /das
