Push Admin

Duterte says missing sabungeros 'fault of evil men' but defends online sabong

Article (news)

Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="PTV" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/03/17/20220317-screengrab-from-ptv.jpg"/><figcaption><em>Screengrab from PTV</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday defended online sabong due to the billions of pesos in revenues it gives the government, but blamed the disappearances of several sabungeros&#x27; to &quot;evil men.&quot; </p><p>This comes amid senators&#x27; clamor to suspend e-sabong operations, due to the unsolved disappearances of around 30 sabungeros since late December. A Senate body has passed a resolution to suspend e-sabong operations. </p><p>&quot;E-sabong gives government P644 million ang buwan. In one year, it gives the government billions,&quot; Duterte said in his speech in Palo town, Leyte. </p><p>&quot;Let the police solve the problem... It&#x27;s not the fault of the management. It&#x27;s the fault of evil men doing something wrong,&quot; he added.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/16/22/sayang-duterte-rejects-e-sabong-suspension-cites-billions-in-revenue">Duterte rejects suspending e-sabong ops, cites billions in revenue</a></li></ul><p>The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) this week said it earned P3.7 billion from April to December 2021 from e-sabong and another P1.4 billion so far this year. </p><p>&quot;Sa aming projection, aabot sa P7.2 billion hanggang P8 billion ang magiging koleksyon sa e-sabong ngayong taon na &#x27;to,&quot; PAGCOR chief Andrea Domingo said.</p><p>(Based on our projection, collections from e-sabong will reach P7.2 billion to P8 billion this year.) </p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">NOW: President Duterte gives his speech at the inauguration of the new Leyte Provincial Capitol in Palo town. <a href="https://twitter.com/ABSCBNNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ABSCBNNews</a> <a href="https://t.co/IwbX6pgsRm">pic.twitter.com/IwbX6pgsRm</a></p>— Job Manahan (@jobmanahan) <a href="https://twitter.com/jobmanahan/status/1504387741781757956?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2022</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>There are around 30 missing sabungeros as of March 2022, authorities said. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) earlier said at least <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/16/22/dilg-at-least-8-suspects-involved-in-missing-online-sabungeros-identified">8 suspects</a> have been identified.</p><p>The Philippine National Police, meanwhile, said 6 suspects were &quot;positively&quot; identified.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/16/22/dilg-at-least-8-suspects-involved-in-missing-online-sabungeros-identified ">DILG: At least 8 suspects involved in missing online sabungeros identified</a></li></ul><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1966934" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar"><em>Video from PTV</em></div>

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday defended online sabong due to the billions of pesos in revenues it gives the government, but blamed the disappearances of several sabungeros' to 'evil men.' 

Duterte says missing sabungeros 'fault of evil men' but defends online sabong

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

News

Duterte says missing sabungeros 'fault of evil men' but defends online sabong

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 17, 2022 06:54 PM PHT

|

Updated March 17, 2022 10:14 PM PHT

Read More:

Sabungeros

missing sabungeros

online sabong

e-sabong

Rodrigo Duterte

President Duterte

Duterte e-sabong

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.