PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. drew a hard line when he ordered a total ban on e-sabong.
It was a recognition that whatever money the industry generated came at a devastating cost — addiction, broken families and communities hollowed out by online gambling that flourished during the pandemic.
The ban was meant to be final, not symbolic.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla reinforced that message with clear directives to law enforcement agencies: the prohibition must be enforced nationwide, without exception.
In policy terms, the government’s position could not have been clearer.
And yet, persistent reports continue to circulate that illegal e-sabong operations may still be active in parts of Manila, with Tondo often mentioned in public discussions.
These reports, repeated across media and law-enforcement conversations, have not been judicially established.
Still, their persistence alone creates a damaging perception — that enforcement in the nation’s capital may be inconsistent.
Names such as “Don Robert” and “Macmac” frequently surface in these accounts, often described as figures allegedly connected to underground gambling networks.
These claims remain allegations and have not been proven in court. But their steady appearance in public discourse points to a deeper concern: the growing belief that illegal gambling does not survive through secrecy alone, but through perceived protection and influence.
This is where leadership matters most. Mayor Isko Moreno has built his political identity on discipline, order and visible governance.
Allowing Manila — especially Tondo — to be viewed as a possible haven for banned activities risks undermining that image.
Manila Police District Director PBGen. Arnold Abad also carries a critical responsibility: to ensure that presidential orders are enforced firmly and fairly.
For Sec. Remulla, Mayor Moreno and PBGen. Abad, the issue is no longer about declarations.
The lingering talk of e-sabong poses a simple but dangerous question: in Manila, does the law still prevail?
The answer will be measured not in words, but in action.
