Cebu City Police Intensify Illegal Gambling Crackdown

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival has ordered local police to intensify monitoring and enforcement against illegal gambling operations. The directive targets activities lacking proper permits, licenses, and authorizations within the city.

What Happened

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival has instructed the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) to increase scrutiny of illegal gambling operations, according to The Manila Times. The mayor specifically directed the CCPO to verify permits, licenses, and other clearances for operators involved in activities such as small town lottery (STL), Lotte, e-Sabong, and cockfighting. This directive was issued during a recent briefing attended by CCPO Officer-in-Charge Col. Ricky Sumalde, City Councilor Paul Labra, and unit heads from the city’s 13 police stations.

Police have also been ordered to ensure that cockfighting activities comply with Cebu City Ordinance 1447, as amended by City Ordinance 2806. This ordinance outlines requirements for cockpit licensing, authorized activities, officials, and restrictions on sites and distances. The intensified enforcement follows a recent incident during a barangay fiesta where approximately 50 individuals were reportedly arrested for alleged illegal gambling related to traditional cockfighting, despite organizers claiming possession of a city permit, The Manila Times reported.

Key Details

• Mayor Archival’s directive targets gambling activities including STL, Lotte, e-Sabong, and cockfighting, requiring verification of permits and licenses (The Manila Times).
• Cebu City police are instructed to ensure compliance with City Ordinance 1447 and 2806 regarding cockfighting regulations (The Manila Times).
• The order follows a recent incident where around 50 people were reportedly arrested for alleged illegal cockfighting during a barangay fiesta (The Manila Times).
• Councilor Alvin Arcilla has proposed a resolution for the City Council Committee on Laws to review existing regulations on city authorization for traditional cockfighting during fiestas and clarify guidelines (The Manila Times).

Why It Matters

This directive from Mayor Archival signifies a concentrated effort by local authorities to regulate gambling activities within Cebu City, aiming to ensure compliance with local ordinances and national laws. The crackdown on unlicensed operations, including those masquerading as legitimate STL or traditional cockfighting, underscores the ongoing challenges in managing the gambling sector. The proposed review by Councilor Arcilla highlights a potential ambiguity in legal frameworks surrounding local government authorization for traditional gambling events versus national regulations, which could have implications for how such activities are permitted and monitored moving forward.

The local enforcement efforts in Cebu City occur amidst broader legislative pushes at the national level, such as Senate Bill 2347 filed by Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, which seeks to prohibit gambling-related advertisements and sponsorships nationwide. This parallel activity indicates a growing focus on regulating various aspects of the gambling industry across the Philippines, from direct operations to promotional activities, suggesting a tightening regulatory environment for operators.

What’s Next

The City Council Committee on Laws is expected to review whether existing laws permit Cebu City to authorize or regulate traditional cockfighting during barangay fiestas, as proposed by Councilor Alvin Arcilla. This review aims to establish clearer guidelines for barangay and fiesta organizers and clarify the sufficiency of city permits under national gambling laws, according to The Manila Times.

Originally reported by The Manila Times·Published 4 Sep 2026, 16:09