President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Tuesday defended his decision not to suspend e-sabong operations, saying that the government is earning millions from it monthly.

"E-sabong is legal. When we allow gambling, it's legal. Tanong mo ano nagawa ng e-sabong diyan kung magpatayan? Whether you like it or not, sa casino pwede niyong gawin yung mga ganon. How can you stop crime and criminality," Duterte said during his taped Talk to the People.

"Baka nagduda kayo bakit hindi ko hininto. Hindi ko hininto kasi kailangan ng pera sa e-sabong ng gobyerno," he added.

[Maybe you're wondering why I didn't suspend it. I didn't suspend it because the government needs the money from e-sabong.]

"In a year's time, it's billion plus. Saan tayo makahanap ng pera na ganun kadali?" he said.

[Where will we find that kind of money easily?]

The Senate earlier said the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) should make a move to collect the taxes from the operator of e-sabong and winners of the said gambling application.