Senate

Senators pointed out that Pagcor does not need the permission from Malacañang to temporarily suspend the licenses of e-sabong operators in the country.

The Senate on Monday, Feb. 28, formally filed a resolution urging the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) to suspend the operation of the popular "E-sabong" or online cockfight until the cases of the 31 missing cockfight aficionados are resolved.

Sen. Francis Tolentino also questioned the supposed legal authority of Pagcor to grant e-sabong/online sabong operators license to operate.

Under the proposed legislation, all social media networks must also require the real name and phone number of users upon creation of account.

Under the bill, advertisements or images by manufacturers and retailers that encourage the purchase and use of vape products would be prohibited.

Citing data from credit reporting company TransUnion dated March 2021, Sen. Grace Poe said 44 percent of Filipinos have been targeted by digital fraud while fraud attempts against businesses have risen by 31 percent.

Aside from the mandatory SIM card registration, Senate Bill 2395 also mandates social media account providers to require users to register their real names and phone numbers before the creation of their social media accounts.

During the hybrid Senate hearing on Monday, Dec. 13, senators rejected the proposed amendment of Sen. Pia Cayetano to Senate Bill No. 2239 or the Vaporized Nicotine Products Regulation Act, which will change the proposed minimum allowable age -- from 18 to 21 years old -- for the purchase, sale and use of vaporized nicotine products.

Sen. Franklin Drilon expressed his concern that the National Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) has a higher budget of P30 billion compared to the DOST’s 2022 budget of P23.793 billion.

The bill defines and penalizes online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) as a separate crime from those punished under current laws.