BACOLOD City – Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez ordered a temporary stop to the issuance of special permits for cockfighting after noticing that the number of applications increased.
“As of now, wala kami nagahatag special permit para sa mga gaming activities, including cockfighting. Kon may regular nga cockpit ginpatindog, I think naglapaw na gane kita. Ara na ta sa maximum nga makabutang sang cockpit diri sa aton,” the mayor explained.
But Councilor Al Victor Espino, chair of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Laws, Ordinances, and Good Government, said the city council would approve cockfighting on three conditions. These are:
* if it is during a barangay fiesta
* barangay charter day
* a barangay resolution for tourism purposes for three days only.
Benitez, on his part, said he would ask the city council for a moratorium pending review if there is an existing ordinance that allows cockfighting.
The mayor further said he will strictly scrutinize all applications for special permits on gaming, adding that he also noticed violations in peryahans for holding illegal gambling activities as per reports from the Bacolod City Police Office./PN
