Senator Francis Tolentino castigated the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) for allowing online cockfighting operators or e-Sabong to operate nonstop through Holy Week.
During the Senate hearing on sabungeros allegedly abducted from e-Sabong kingpin Atong Ang’s cockpits, Tolentino accused Pagcor of “sleeping on the job” for allowing e-Sabong to operate even during Good Friday, one of the most important days among Filipino Catholics.
“I noticed that even on a Good Friday, contrary to what Pagcor has been saying that they have been regulating e-Sabong, there was e-Sabong. Eh nakakagulat naman po iyon. There should be a semblance of respect for our (religious) traditions, and I ask Pagcor why this happened?” said Tolentino.
Tolentino questioned why e-Sabong, which could be easily accessed through mobile phones, was untouchable when Pagcor’s casinos were closed out of respect for the Good Friday commemoration.
“Ang naalala ko lang sa sabong, ang naalala ko lang sa manok (tuwing Biyernes Santo), yung si St. Peter na may hawak na manok noong araw? Pero there was gross violation of our faith. I don’t know why it was done. Probably Pagcor slept on its job,” said Tolentino.

Dwarfed by the big House: Threat of losing job behind senators’ opposition to cha cha
Majority of senators are opposed to charter change over fears that they would lose their jobs should Congress become a unicameral legislative body, a lawmaker admitted Monday (March 20).