Following pronouncements that presumptive president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is not inclined to bring back online cockfighting, Deputy Speaker and Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. revealed that he and fellow pastors belonging to the Bible Believers League for Morality and Democracy (BIBLEMODE) International, Inc. would be open to supporting the incoming administration if it pursues anti-gambling policies meant to protect the Filipino family.
According to Abante, “all of us, regardless of the candidates we supported in the election, should respect the mandate given to our next president and vice-president.”
Earlier this week, Marcos spokesman Atty. Vic Rodriguez intimated that the presumption president was not inclined to tap e-sabong as a source of revenue.
“We should all pray for their success because if the incoming administration performs well, all of our people will benefit.”
Abante, a vocal anti-gambling advocate, said that he and BIBLEMODE members welcomed the news that the presumptive president would not turn to gambling to raise government revenues.
The legislator acknowledged that raising government revenues would be a top priority of the next administration, but stressed that “gambling activities like e-sabong should not be considered an option given that the revenues generated will come from a vice that victimizes poor and low-income Filipinos.”
“The government should not line its pockets with money that our kababayan need for their families; why should we risk destroying the lives of our citizens to earn revenues,” asked Abante.
“It is not worth it. Let us remember our priorities. Our priority is to help Filipino families, and we cannot help them if their breadwinners—including their children—are online, betting away their hard-earned wages.”
Earlier this week, Marcos spokesman Atty. Vic Rodriguez intimated that the presumption president was not inclined to tap e-sabong as a source of revenue.
Rodriguez, the chief of staff of Marcos and the head of his transition team, said that “not just for e-sabong but for any industry, even if the potential revenue is really enticing, if it will compromise the moral fiber of the youth if it will compromise the value of the Filipino family, President Bongbong is more than willing to let go of that very lucrative source.”
