SENATOR Raffy Tulfo criticized the Philippine National Police (PNP), Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on February 11, 2026, for their slow response to illegal e-sabong and online gambling operations in the country.
During the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement hearing, Senator Tulfo presented footage of an ongoing live e-sabong operation allegedly operating in Central Luzon, suggesting that operations continue despite the declared total ban on e-sabong.
The senator questioned the use of the PNP’s estimated ₱1.3 billion intelligence funds, noting that major personalities allegedly involved in the illegal operations remain at large. He stated that authorities have only shut down small-scale e-sabong sites while failing to take down the largest operations in the Philippines, located in Central Luzon, despite knowing the gambling kingpins.
Senator Tulfo urged authorities to demonstrate that they are working for the people and not just for influential and powerful individuals.
During the hearing, Senator Tulfo also named “Pineda” and “Bernos” as alleged “gambling kingpins.” He further questioned why authorities have supposedly failed to stop large-scale e-sabong operations while focusing enforcement efforts on small-scale neighborhood gambling activities.
