‘Tupada’ rampant in CamSur

PILI, Camarines Sur—A neophyte provincial board member raised alarm over the proliferation of  illegal cockfighting in Camarines Sur and how it shortchanges the provincial government in terms of revenues from amusement taxes.

Board Member Nelson Julia said illegal cockfighting was rampant in all 35 towns in Camarines Sur, particularly in his hometown Magarao.

Julia tagged the cockpit in Barangay (village) Sta. Lucia of his town as “colorum,” which continues to hold cockfighting events daily.

Senior Insp. Rodolfo Oliver Jr., Magarao chief of police, denied that illegal cockfighting is allowed in Sta. Lucia in a cockpit owned by Franco Salvador.

Oliver said the operation of the cockfighting arena in Magarao had the support of the municipal council and was approved by the mayor, and therefore legal.

He said he received an order from the Philippine National Police provincial command to take action against illegal cockfights, known as “tupada” here, but town policemen reported that no illegal cockfights exist in their towns.

Julia, in a privileged speech on Tuesday, asked his colleagues at the provincial board to act on the proliferation of illegal cockfights, starting with the listing of cockpits operating in Camarines Sur.

He urged the provincial board to scrutinize the location, engineering design and permits of existing cockpits in the province.

Julia said the operation must follow the cockfighting law that sets standard on the location and engineering of the cockpits that must be given permits.

He said that among other requirements, the cockpits must be far from schools, residential areas and hospitals and should follow the zoning ordinance of a town or city.

Julia said he wanted the provincial government not to rely on the reports of the cockpit owners regarding the number of tickets sold at the entrances of cockpits.

He said “incorruptible” personnel should be assigned to these cockpits to actually monitor the entrance fees “to give what is due to the provincial government.”

Julia has a brother who also operates or sponsors cockfighting while Camarines Sur Gov. Miguel Luis Villafuerte has a cousin who also operates the same business.