A Filipino Senate commission investigating the mysterious disappearances of 34 men with connections to the new regulated online cockfighting (e-sabong) securities industry wrapped up proceedings this week.
But The Philippine Inquirer reports the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs was no more finisher to learning what happened to the missing men.
All of the victims were suspected of involvement inwards match-fixing schemes. Those usually affect sabotaging the execution of a rooster for the do good of a gambling syndicate.
In many cases, the men were utmost seen inward ane of trinity cockpit arenas operated by Lucky 8 Star Quest Inc, a licensed e-sabong company, according to the Inquirer. Some were seen conversing with cockpit security officers before they disappeared.
‘Atong’ Ang Denies Involvement
Lucky 8 Star Quest Inc is owned by play tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang. type A controversial enter in the Philippines, Ang is a former illegal numbers manipulator and crony of ex-Philippine President Joseph Estrada, who was impeached inward 2000 for corruption. Ang also spent clip inward prison house on “plunder” charges.
Testifying at a citizens committee audience shoemaker's last month, he denied any involvement inwards the disappearances, and claimed in that respect was a “conspiracy” against him past competition operators.
But on Monday, chairman of the Senate citizens committee Ronald Dela genus Rosa said the venire testament urge that the CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) and the DOJ “gather more grounds against “Atong” Ang and the other officials of pitmasters.”
Several people have been arrested on suspiciousness of involvement inward the kidnappings, including fivesome police officers. CIDG chief Gen. Eliseo Cruz told the committee his authority had already filed snatch and robbery charges against the officers.
Other recommendations of the Senate committee include making security measures cameras inward betting stations and cockpits arenas a required term of licensing. Dela Rosa said the investigation had been hampered by a want of useable protection footage.
He also wants to innovate a new law that would confine e-sabong operations to Sundays and public holidays, bringing them inward line of business with existing laws on traditional cockfights.
Duterte Won’t Suspend Market
Last month, the commission called on President Rodrigo Duterte to suspend the e-sabong marketplace spell the investigating into the disappearances was ongoing. The prexy declined, citing the revenue licensed operations were generating for governance coffers.
I will choose at present 'tween losing income by the billions. It’s such a waste,” Duterte told lawmakers. “We don’t have got money. We’re unawares on money.”
E-sabong exploded inward popularity during the Philippines’ extended coronavirus lockdown, when many live venues were unsympathetic to spectators. This spurred the government to assess and regularize it.
Gambling regulator PAGCOR began issuing the firstly licenses inward May 2021, shortly after people started to tour missing.