Cebu City Orders Police To Tighten Monitoring Of Illegal Gambling

Illegal gambling operations in Cebu City are facing tighter scrutiny after Mayor Nestor Archival ordered local police to intensify monitoring and enforcement against gambling activities without the required permits and authorizations.

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Archival directed the Cebu City Police Office to verify the permits, licenses, and other clearances of operators involved in small town lottery, Lotte, e-Sabong, cockfighting, and similar activities.

The directive was issued during a recent briefing attended by CCPO Officer-in-Charge Col. Ricky Sumalde, City Councilor Paul Labra, and unit heads and station commanders from the city’s 13 police stations.

Focus On Specific Gambling Activities

Archival said his office was directing the police to give particular attention to gambling activities within Cebu City, including but not limited to small town lottery, Lotte, e-Sabong, cockfighting, and other similar activities.

Police were also ordered to check cockfighting activities for compliance with Cebu City Ordinance 1447, as amended by City Ordinance 2806. The ordinance sets requirements for cockpit licensing, authorized activities, and cockfighting officials, as well as restrictions on sites and distances.

The directive follows a recent incident during a barangay fiesta in which police reportedly arrested around 50 people for alleged illegal gambling linked to a traditional cockfighting activity. Organizers reportedly claimed they had secured a city permit before the activity.

Council Review Proposed

Councilor Alvin Arcilla later proposed a resolution asking the City Council Committee on Laws to review whether existing laws allow the city to authorize or regulate traditional cockfighting activities during barangay fiestas.

The proposed review also seeks clearer guidelines for barangay, fiesta organizers, and government agencies, and clarification on whether a city permit is sufficient to authorize such activities under national gambling laws.

STL is a government-sanctioned numbers game operated under the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, while unauthorized operations using its name remain an enforcement concern.

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E-Sabong And Cockfighting Rules

E-Sabong, or online cockfighting, was banned nationwide in 2022. Cockfighting, meanwhile, remains legal under regulated conditions but must comply with national laws and local regulations.

E-Sabong is not the only form of gambling that Cebu City had issues with recently. This year, police have made arrests in relation to illegal gambling. In March, the police arrested four Koreans for running an illegal online gambling establishment, which is associated with offshore-style gambling games. They were charged according to Republic Act 9287 and the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

In June, police arrested 11 alleged swertres ushers in Danao City, Talisay City, and Liloan, and confiscated betting slips and cash believed to be proceeds from illegal gambling.

National Measures Under Consideration

The local crackdown comes as lawmakers push measures addressing gambling and its promotion. Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero also filed Senate Bill 2347, which seeks to prohibit gambling-related advertisements and sponsorships nationwide.

The proposed national measure would operate alongside local enforcement actions in Cebu City. The city’s police have been directed to verify permits and licenses for small town lottery, Lotte, e-Sabong, cockfighting, and similar activities.

Next Steps For Cebu City Police

The Cebu City Police Office will now implement the mayor’s directive on gambling monitoring and enforcement. The 13 police stations are expected to verify permits, licenses, and clearances for operators involved in the specified activities.

The City Council Committee on Laws will consider the proposed review of traditional cockfighting activities during barangay fiestas. The outcome of that review could affect how such activities are authorized and regulated within the city.

The regional crackdown involves the surveillance of the police force, permit checks, and even the scrutiny of the cockfighting regulations. The national policy on advertising ban proposed by Sen. Escudero is still under deliberation amid Cebu’s crackdown against illegal gambling activities.

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Source: The Manila Times