According to the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), there is no total ban on cockfighting in the city. Acting BCPO director Colonel Noel Aliño clarified that cockfighting is only allowed with a permit secured from the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP).
Last May, the SP passed a resolution clarifying to the Philippine National Police the legal basis for holding cockfights during fiestas or similar celebrations.
“Cockfighting is not totally banned as long as it aligns with the Presidential Decree 449 and the resolution,” said Colonel Aliño.
The resolution cited City Ordinance (CO) 506, series of 2009, which grants authority to the SP to issue special permits for special cockfights for specified purposes.
The ordinance defined a “licensed cockpit” as “a cockpit that has been issued the permit and the authority to operate as such by the City after complying with all the requirements as so provided for under CO 87, series of 1993.”
And, “an area which has been adopted by the barangay through a barangay resolution as its temporary cockpit for a 3-day period in celebration of its barangay fiesta and/or Charter Day, or by the Province of Negros Occidental in its celebration of Panaad sang Negros Festival, provided that said barangay/province secures a special permit from the SP in compliance with Section 1, paragraph 9a, sub-paragraph 4 hereof.”
“The power to regulate cockfights was devolved to the local government units,” the resolution said.
Aliño said there was no problem with the resolution. He added that he is not against cockfighting but would not allow it if no permits are presented. He will also not allow any illegal gambling activities, including illegal cockfighting.
