The Philippine National Police (PNP) has pledged to intensify its crackdown on illegal online cockfighting, following new indications that e-sabong operations are resurfacing on digital platforms.
As reported by Manila Bulletin, PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said on January 12 that officers are confronting increasingly complex cybermethods used to evade law enforcement.
Nartatez said the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) has been conducting continuous operations to dismantle websites and channels hosting e-sabong, but the evolving nature of cybercrime presents persistent challenges. “We remain focused on the campaign to stop all forms of illegal gambling,” he said, noting that operators are adapting quickly through concealed digital infrastructures.
The renewed push follows concerns raised in the Senate, where Senator Raffy Tulfo presented a live e-sabong broadcast during a committee hearing. Although the activity has been banned, police say remnants of the network have shifted to decentralised online setups, making detection more difficult.
To bolster enforcement, Nartatez has directed police commanders nationwide to support the ACG through monitoring and intelligence-gathering, especially in identifying the origin of livestream feeds within local jurisdictions. The ACG and the Intelligence Group have also been coordinating to trace operators using layered VPNs, offshore servers and anonymous payment channels.
“It may look like a simple livestream to the public but behind those links is a sophisticated network,” Nartatez said, adding that any accessible stream can be traced with coordinated cyber and on-ground action.
Alongside shutting down platforms, the PNP is prioritizing the identification of financiers and organisers behind the illegal gambling operations. Nartatez also urged citizens to report suspicious activity and reminded police personnel that involvement in e-sabong in any form will not be tolerated.
Online cockfighting was ordered banned nationwide in 2022, yet police say fragmented operators have continued shifting to covert digital platforms
