CICC vows to wipe out e-sabong

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) vowed to intensify its efforts to “totally eliminate” online sabong or cockfighting games, calling it a growing threat to the country’s cybersecurity and social fabric.

“This is not just about gambling. This is about organized cybercrime, financial fraud, and the exploitation of digital loopholes that allow illicit activities to thrive,” CICC deputy executive director Atty. Renato Paraiso.

“We are not merely condemning the act. We are acting decisively to root it out,” he added in a statement released on Thursday.

However, Paraiso pointed out that a total ban on online gambling platforms is not the solution.

“A regulated, transparent system with the strictest rules and clear guardrail is the more effective deterrent,” he said.

The CICC said it has ramped up surveillance and digital forensics capabilities to combat evolving cybercrimes, with particular focus on online scams, child sexual exploitation, identity theft, and illicit online gambling.

Paraiso called on lawmakers and regulators to work together in crafting a balanced legal framework that would penalize illegal actors without stifling innovation in digital entertainment and financial technology.

“This is no longer just a legal issue. It is a governance issue, an ethical issue, and a national security issue,” he said. —VAL, GMA Integrated News