Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte vows to ban online cockfighting known as ‘e-sabong’

There has been outcry over the sport following the disappearance of dozens of workers and concerns about the social costs of gambling

Duterte previously rejected calls to stop online cockfighting, known locally as e-sabong, due to the millions of dollars the government earns in monthly taxes

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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he will order the termination of online cockfighting operations. Photo: Reuters

Published: 6:21pm, 3 May 2022Updated: 7:05pm, 3 May 2022

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to ban online cockfighting following outcry over the industry sparked by the disappearance of dozens of workers and concerns about the social costs of gambling.

Cockfighting is a popular sport in the Southeast Asian nation, but the Covid-19 pandemic forced the closure of traditional arenas where spectators flock to watch roosters wearing bladed spurs fight to the death.

The government instead granted franchises to seven firms to show the bloody contests and take bets online – known as “e-sabong” – 24 hours a day.

Duterte had previously rejected calls to stop the practice, noting that the roughly 640 million pesos (US$12 million) in monthly taxes from the industry were helping to replenish government coffers depleted by the pandemic.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gestures as he meets cabinet officials at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila, Philippines on March 7. Photo: Malacanang Presidential Photographers Division via AP

But in a recorded television address aired on Tuesday, weeks before he leaves office, Duterte said “e-sabong will end by tonight”.