MANILA – A party-list lawmaker on Wednesday opposed the proposal that Congress should provide legislative franchises to the operators of online cockfighting or e-sabong.

In a statement, Citizens’ Battle against Corruption (CIBAC) Party-list Rep. Bro Eddie Villanueva said taking away the authority from Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to grant licenses to operate e-sabong and transfer it to Congress instead would make no difference, considering that internet-dispersed gambling is already “wreaking havoc” to society.

“Wherever they prosper, gambling operations galvanize criminality, poverty, and broken families — this fact is no longer just a scientific observation in other countries; the Philippines is currently its latest victim,” Villanueva said.

Villanueva said government leaders and agencies that empower e-gambling are culpable for the “gambling-induced social and moral decay”.

He further explained that a congressional license on e-sabong will only deepen a destructive get-rich-quick culture among our people.

“Instead, Congress should not grant legislative franchise to e-sabong operators. It should begin taking action to eradicate the e-sabong infrastructure that is evidently inflicting a scourge of miseries to poor Filipinos who are being enticed into a psychologically and morally destructive ‘past time’ in hopes of bettering their fortune,” he said.

He also condemned the e-sabong-linked disappearance of at least 31 cockfighting enthusiasts, who allegedly got involved in “unsavory” e-sabong transactions.

“CIBAC has long been sounding the alarm against e-sabong. It is regretful that it seems our warnings fell on deaf ears and have now become undeniable realities. Fathers, brothers, and sons are dying senseless deaths. Mothers, wives, and children are being needlessly widowed and orphaned just because gambling moguls are being favored over the welfare of the people,” he said.

Based on reports, around 31 individuals were reported missing by their relatives and family in the past months after they visited cockpit arenas in Manila and Southern Luzon.

The Senate has initiated its inquiry into the rising number of missing persons allegedly involved in cockfighting and its online version.

Lawmakers have asked Pagcor to suspend licenses of e-sabong operators