Duterte Apologizes for Initially Allowing e-Sabong in PH

President Rodrigo Duterte apologized to the public Tuesday for his late realization of the cons of allowing e-sabong operations in the country.

“‘yung e-sabong, I’m sorry, I did not really realize that it would be like,” Duterte said in his speech during his inspection of the National Academy of Sports in New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.

The president added that the reason why he allowed the operation of e-sabong in the country was due to the money the government was raking in monthly, which amounted to PHP640 million monthly during that time.

“The moving factor there was… Naimbiyerna kasi ako, PHP640 million a month tapos so many billions a year because our—maraming nago-operate eh,” the president admitted.

However, one factor the president did not realize at that time was the damage e-sabong would cause families.

“Kaya ‘yun ang naano ko, but I realized very late and I am very sorry that it had to happen. Hindi ko akalain na ganoon, hindi naman ako nagsusugal. I do not gamble, I do not drink anymore, only water.”

Duterte then said that he was very late in realizing since he does not gamble nor drink alcohol.

Duterte then emphasized the negative effects of gambling in a family.

“Pag na-dysfunctional, sige away. Maghiwalay ‘yan. Ito ang segue ng babae. ‘Pag nag-away ‘yan gulo na ang pamilya, maghiwalay, ang mga bata… Alam mo dito sa E, hirit nang hirit ‘yan. So ang anak nila, tatlo, apat, lima, anim, pito. That is the — ‘yung ang sabi mo peace and order or law and order.”

Duterte mandated the stoppage of e-sabong operations in the country in May after the disappearance of e-sabong players in the country.

Read the article here: E-Sabong Operations Stopped

The missing persons are yet to be located as of writing.

The Senate urged the president in May to suspend the operations of e-sabong until the cases of the 31 missing e-sabong players are resolved, however, the president did not heed the call as the government was earning PHP640 million a month from e-sabong.

The president then asked Congress to regulate e-sabong operations through licensing of franchises. (GFB)