Due to the bad social effects on Filipinos, President Rodrigo Duterte declared on Tuesday that he would order the immediate “end” of e-sabong activities.

This happened after the interior department conducted a survey, which Duterte said concluded that the gaming platform “is working against our values,” despite the government’s annual earnings from online sabong in the billions of pesos.

“Validated ‘yung naririnig ko… May naririnig na ako loud and very clear to me — it is working against our values. ‘Yung impact sa pamilya at sa tao, ang labas, hindi na natutulog yung mga sabungero 24 hours,” he stated this in his pre-recorded message, which aired on Tuesday.

“The recommendation of [Interior] Secretary [Eduardo] Año is do away with e-sabong. He cited the validation report coming from all sources. It’s his recommendation and I agree with it. It is good. So e-sabong will end by tonight. Bukas, lalabas ito bukas,” he continued.

Andrea Domingo, Chairman of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), stated that no income will be received from the gaming platform “starting today” since the President’s order will be implemented immediately.

“The Executive Secretary will issue a formal memorandum to this effect and we will serve the appropriate notice to the PAGCOR regulated esabong operators,” Domingo stated.

“We will also inform the COA Auditor officially that starting today, there will no longer be revenues collected from esabong operations,” she continued.

Sen. Grace Poe stated that as e-sabong habits spread, lives and family connections were threatened.

“Sumasang-ayon tayo sa pagpapatigil ng e-sabong habang patuloy ang mga pag-aaral ng masamang epekto na dulot nito,” she stated. 

Senate President Vicente Sotto III stated of Duterte’s decision, “It’s about time. Napakinggan din ang [resolution] ng Senado.”

Sen. Koko Pimentel said authorities should complete their investigation and announce the results of the sabungeros’ disappearance as soon as possible.

“Dapat pag-usapan nang mabuti, kung ano ba talaga ang mga epekto ng legalization ng mga iba’t ibang uri ng sugal tulad ng e-sabong. Wag madaliin. Mas mabuti siguro ipadesisyon na ito sa bagong papasok ng Kongreso,” he stated.

Duterte has rejected requests to terminate e-sabong operations, claiming at least P300 million in monthly government income.

PAGCOR reported earning P3.7 billion from e-sabong from April to December 2021, with at least P1.4 billion earned in the first three months of this year.