KARSA condemns “Online Sabong”, urges local government to take action

Tabuk City, Kalinga - The Kalinga Apayao Religious Sector Association (KARSA) through a resolution that came up from their regular meeting on November 19, 2021, stated their condemnation against online cockfighting or the E-Sabong.

KARSA said they have observed that E-Sabong, a gambling game in which players place bets on cockfighting done live through the internet, “is popular and prevalent nowadays in our province and city.” Additionally, the group said that “the gambling habit in all forms is defeating the whole economic program of the government because it breeds the idea of getting money without work.”

“It has been demonstrated through the centuries that gambling has been a great factor in breaking up homes, which is the seat of happiness,” KARSA added.

As stated in the resolution, KARSA, as a group “committed to a responsibility of seeing to it that their members are free from this act of gambling” therefore urging for the stoppage of all forms of gambling in the city and the whole province.

With this, the group then furnished the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Tabuk City and Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Kalinga a copy of the resolution attached with a letter on the same date, urging both legislative bodies to intervene as the issue requires immediate government action in order to save bettors from ruining not only themselves but other people.

KARSA, in the letter, has also informed of certain promoters of “Online Sabong” neglecting the devastating impact on the moral values of the populace that even children are enticed to bet.

“We call all concern promoter or gaming operators to stop E-Sabong, especially so that we are facing (a) pandemic and under quarantine,” KARSA expressed.

“We call the attention of the Barangay LGUs, schools, and the various organizations in the province and the City to step up their respective efforts to warn their constituents against the evils of gambling, be it legal or illegal,” the group added.

KARSA, in the letter, then encouraged constituents not to participate and campaign against the online gambling amusement so that others may not be tempted to play or be lured by the game’s instant money.

In an interview with one of the E-Sabong players, Nick admitted that he became addicted to the online game as it delivers easy money. He related that he even opted to sell and loan his properties just for bets.

However, when asked if he is in favor of the stoppage of the online game, he said, “Ngem nu usapan ti priorities ket haan ko makit-kita nga dayta dapat iti priority nga i-pasardeng da.”

Meantime, according to research, E-Sabong has disadvantages, citing one that although the players can win huge amounts of money through their online sabong, betting activities, bettors’ privacy and security are at risk since most of the players are strangers and there is no guarantee of privacy.

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