A NEGROS-BASED party-list group of breeders is pushing for the review of the guidelines on "e-sabong" or the online, remote or off-site wagering or betting on live cockfighting matches, events, and activities streamed or broadcast live from cockpit arenas licensed or authorized by local government units (LGUs).
Jaime "Jimmy" Mariquit, first nominee of AKO Breeder Party-list, on Saturday, March 5, 2022, said they are not against "e-sabong" because it is the source of livelihood of many families.
"(But) I believe that it should be regulated by the government," he said, adding that there is also a need to review the Implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of "e-sabong."
"E-sabong" started at the height of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, without any public hearing and consultation, prior to the approval of its operations by the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), he said.
Mariquit, who is from Escalante City, said a review of the IRR will enable the government to safeguard those who are joining the games.
"E-sabong" could also generate taxes for the government, he added.
"E-sabong" recently hogged the headlines following the abduction of at least 31 cockfight aficionados in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces who remained missing until now.
Moreover, Mariquit is also pushing for the repeal of Presidential Decree 449 or the Philippine Cockfighting Law of 1974 and making it a Republic Act instead of making the traditional fighting cock derbies in the barangays legal.
He said the Covid-19 pandemic badly affected traditional cockfighting as cockpits were closed and big-time cockfighting tournaments have been stopped.
Traditional cockfighting is already a culture of the people in the countryside and has been part of every "fiestas," he said.
Mariquit said by allowing traditional cockfighting in villages during fiesta, which is being held only once a year, it will also raise taxes for the concerned barangay and provide additional income for its residents.
He estimated that about one million Negrenses are hooked into traditional cockfighting, especially that Negros Occidental is known as the fighting cock capital of the country.