Negros Occidental city mayor faces rap for cockfighting

A reelected mayor faces a criminal charge for allowing the holding of a cockfight every Sunday for two months in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.

In the information filed against him by the Office of the Special Prosecutor, Himamaylan City Mayor Augustin Ernesto Bascon was charged with violating Section 5(D) of the Presidential Decree 449, or the Cockfighting Law of 1974, as amended by PD 1602 which prescribes stiffer penalties on illegal gambling.

Bascon won reelection in the May 9 elections.

According to the information, Bascon in November 2012 willfully, criminally and unlawfully allowed the holding of a cockfight every Sunday from Nov. 11, 2012 to Jan. 9, 2013 in Sitio Calansi in Barangay (village) Libacao.

The prosecutors said Bascon approved the letter request of a certain Pablito Villaruel for a permit to hold “pabulang” or cockfighting.

The mayor granted Villaruel a permit although he was not licensed to operate a cockpit or to hold cockfighting in the city.

The grant of request was also done without the approval of the Philippine National Police chief.

The bail recommended is P10,000. RAM/rga