ILOILO City – A bulang or cock derby was recently held in Janiuay, Iloilo but it was not streamed online, according to Colonel Gilbert Gorero, Iloilo police provincial director.
“We haven’t monitored any livestream in television channels or even on social media,”Gorero said, citing initial investigation.
According to Gorero, the popular bloodsport involving gamecocks on Nov. 13 was legal.
The promoter was able to secure a special permit for a six-cock derby from the local government of Janiuay.
“The promoter followed all public health protocols. The only persons inside [the arena] were game fowl owners and promoters, no audience,” said Gorero.
But he noted that there was a video camera inside the cockpit arena. He would ask the municipal Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) call the attention of the promoter and license cockpit owner to explain the camera’s presence.
“We are not the right person to determine whether the game was live streamed. The local IATF should conduct an investigation,” Gorero added.
Electronic bulang is not new but the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic drove this centuries-old Filipino pastime to fully embrace the cyberspace.
Cockpit arenas have been shut down as social distancing is enforced across the country.
It was not until late October when the government allowed cockfighting in places under modified general community quarantine.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR), the government’s gaming regulatory agency,
is still evaluating the legalization of streaming cockfighting events in authorized arenas.
The agency earlier said it can issue appropriate regulations to license and legitimize cockfights streamed online, as part of efforts to shore up much needed funds for the government.
For now, without PAGCOR’s nod, any online cockfighting is deemed illegal./PN
