Duterte: E-sabong revenues needed since COVID-19 depleted other funds

E-sabong involves remote betting on cockfights.

Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has defended anew e-sabong operations on Thursday, explaining that the government needs the revenues from the online cockfighting games as other funds were depleted by COVID-19.

Senators earlier signed a resolution calling for the suspension of seven e-sabong firms as they investigate the disappearances of over 30 missing people allegedly linked to the games. The Palace, however, allowed the games to go on, but ordered the Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation to look into the issue.

"I need the money [from e-sabong] for those expenses that are not in the budget, which you can't get in the budget so you need money from the outside," Duterte said in Filipino during the inauguration of the OFW Center at Daang Hari, Las Piñas City on Thursday.

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/04/08/2173217/duterte-e-sabong-revenues-needed-covid-19-depleted-other-funds