The Philippine National Police uncovered an underground online cockfighting operation in Barangay Poblacion, Pandi, Bulacan on November 5, 2026, according to the Police Regional Office 3. Joint police units led by the Regional Special Operations Group of the Regional Intelligence Division 3 raided the property at around 6:30 PM under Search Warrant No. 154-M-2026, issued by Judge Reuben Ritzuko T. Veradio of the Regional Trial Court Branch 104 in Malolos City, Bulacan1.
Inside, operatives found two separate studios where cockfights were allegedly staged and livestreamed, along with computer systems and electronic equipment said to support online betting. Confiscated items included desktop computers, monitors, professional video cameras, pan-tilt-zoom cameras, camera controllers, audio mixers, microphones, networking devices, a mobile phone and assorted electronic accessories. Four live fighting cocks were also recovered1.
The operation allegedly reached bettors as far as Mexico, Vietnam and Cambodia, and authorities are looking into those reported international connections. The raid was conducted over alleged violations of Presidential Decree No. 449, the Cockfighting Law of 1974, in relation to Executive Order No. 9, Series of 2022, and Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 20121.
Cases will be filed against 21 suspects: the 19 individuals arrested during the raid and the facility's alleged owner and supervisor, who were not present during the operation1.
"The use of technology does not exempt anyone from the law. We will continue to intensify our operations against illegal online gambling and hold those responsible accountable."
Participating units included the Regional Intelligence Unit 3, Pandi Municipal Police Station, Bulacan Police Provincial Office, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 3, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 3 and the Directorate for Intelligence1.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Raid date | November 5, 2026, around 6:30 PM |
| Location | Barangay Poblacion, Pandi, Bulacan |
| Warrant | Search Warrant No. 154-M-2026 |
| Arrested | 19 |
| Suspects facing cases | 21 |
| Alleged reach | Mexico, Vietnam, Cambodia |
| Fighting cocks recovered | 4 |
What it means for players
The case concerns an unlicensed operation, not the regulated sabong industry. Anyone who placed bets through an online cockpit stream traced to this facility was betting with an operator that police now allege was illegal, and the equipment used to run it has been seized. The alleged cross-border reach means bettors outside the Philippines, including in Vietnam and Cambodia, may have been placing wagers on fights staged in Bulacan. No information has been reported on what happens to money already wagered or to accounts held by bettors.
The charges cited cover both the 1974 cockfighting law and the cybercrime law, which is the framework Philippine authorities have used against online gambling operations generally, including e-sabong. For players in the Philippines, the raid is a reminder that the legal status of an online cockpit stream depends on the operator's license, not on where the video is hosted. For players elsewhere in Asia, the alleged links to Mexico, Vietnam and Cambodia indicate that enforcement in one country can reach operations serving bettors in others. General background on gambling rules in the region is available in the Asian gambling games section, and country guides cover Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines.
What happens next
Cases will be filed against the 21 suspects, including the two who were not present during the raid. No date for filing has been reported, and no court schedule or plea has been announced. Authorities said they are continuing to look into the operation's reported international reach, but no further arrests or charges have been reported.
