Complaints against electronic cockfighting or “e-sabong” are mounting as several Quezon City officials have questioned its legality not only in the city but also in the country.
According to Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, its operation in many off-track betting stations in the city is illegal as it is not authorized by the City Council. OTBs are supposed to be for horseracing betting only.
Belmonte said that the only cockfighting activities legally allowed in Quezon City are those in cockpit arenas duly authorized by the city government.
“Online cockfighting operators must first secure the authority of the City Council before they can conduct such activities, either through a local franchise or an ordinance,” she said. “As far as I know, the City Council has not granted these OTBs the authority to engage in online sabong,” Belmonte added.
Quezon City Councilor Victor “Jun” Ferrer had decried the operation of online sabong in OTBs that he said only have business permits from the Mayor’s Office which are not sufficient without a city ordinance authorizing such activity.
“The Local Government Code is very clear; it specifically lists cockfighting as one of the amusement activities that must be regulated by the Sangguniang Panglunsod and as such, the taking or receiving of bets for the game and the payment of the winnings within the city, whether conducted live or through whatever means, falls under our jurisdiction,” he said.
Ferrer noted the city is losing significant revenues from the operation of online sabong through the non-payment of the proper amusement taxes and franchise fees. (Chito A. Chavez)
