The Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO-6) has ordered its unit commanders to aggressively enforce the law against e-sabong (online cockfighting), based on the instructions of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The directive was issued by Brigadier General Sidney Villaflor, police regional director, as monitoring continued on the possible e-sabong operation in the region.

Major Mary Grace Borio, spokesperson of PRO-6, said the “one-strike policy” on illegal gambling will be implemented by all unit commanders, including provincial directors, city directors, chiefs of police and station commanders, regarding the presence of e-sabong in their respective areas of responsibility.

“After one positive operation of a higher office in the area, the police chief will be relieved,” she added.

PRO-6 covers police units in Negros Occidental, Iloilo province, Capiz, Aklan, Antique and Guimaras, as well as Bacolod City and Iloilo City.

In a separate statement, Villaflor warned all unit commanders to “take immediate action and full responsibility” against e-sabong as “any neglect and/or involvement thereof shall be dealt with accordingly.”

“In line with [DILG] Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr.’s instructions to rid the country of e-sabong, the Philippine National Police commits to an honest and aggressive law enforcement operation towards its optimal success,” he added.

Last December, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. issued Executive Order (EO) 9, directing the continued suspension of the live streaming or broadcasting of live cockfights outside cockpits or cockfighting arenas or premises where cockfights are being held.

EO 9 also suspended online, remote, or off-cockpit wagering and betting on live cockfighting matches, and activities streamed or broadcast live, regardless of the location of the betting platform. (PNA)