Bacolod council issues directive to allow cockfights during fiesta celebrations

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

BACOLOD CITY — The city council here has passed a resolution on Wednesday, May 24, informing the Philippine National Police (PNP) of the legal basis for the holding of cockfights during fiestas or charter day celebrations in the different barangays in this city.

The resolution, authored by Councilor Al Victor Espino, was passed to provide clarification to the PNP through Col. Noel Aliño, the city’s police director.

City Ordinance 506 Series of 2009 of Bacolod City grants authority to the council to issue special permits for cockfights in Bacolod City for specified purposes.

It also defines a licensed cockpit as a one which has been issued the permit and the authority to operate as such by the city after complying with all the requirements.

The permits for temporary cockpits for a three-day period in celebration of a barangay fiesta or charter day are allowed under the city ordinance, Espino said.

The power to regulate cockfights was devolved to the Local Government Unit through the enactment of the Local Government Code of 1991 as it superseded/repealed the Cockfighting Law of 1974.

Section 458, Article 3 of the Local Government Code of 1991 states that “the Sangguniang Panlungsod has the power to enact ordinances granting franchises and authorizing the issuance of permits or licenses for the establishment, operation, and maintenance of cockpits, and regulate cockfighting and commercial breeding of gamecocks.”

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