PNP intensifies e-sabong crackdown

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is ramping up its campaign against illegal online cockfighting, warning that more “e-sabong” hubs will be shut down following a major operation in Tondo, Manila.

PNP chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the intensified drive forms part of a broader, sustained effort to dismantle organized illegal gambling networks across the country.

“We are intensifying intelligence-driven operations nationwide,” he said. “This crackdown will continue until these illegal gambling hubs are completely dismantled.”

The police force is now conducting nationwide intelligence mapping to track down operations being run both in physical venues like coliseums and through online platforms.

The warning came after authorities raided a 24-hour e-sabong operation in Tondo earlier this week, leading to the arrest of more than 170 individuals.

The crackdown aligns with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. under Executive Order No. 9 issued in December 2022, which ordered the continued suspension of e-sabong nationwide.

Beyond illegal gambling, Nartatez noted that such operations are often linked to other violations, including tax evasion and the proliferation of unregulated gatherings.

“It creates an environment where lawlessness thrives, affecting even those who are not playing,” he said.