Cockpit franchise endorsed despite conflict with law

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Gamefowl Commission has endorsed the approval of an ordinance that will grant a franchise to the daughter of Inayawan barangay captain Rustico “Rustom” Ignacio to operate a cockpit for 25 years in the said barangay even if the law only allows two cockpits in cities with a population of over 100,000.

Councilor Augustus Pe Jr., chairman of the Gamefowl Commission, reported to the Cebu City Council in last Wednesday’s regular session that he has the legal opinion of the city lawyers that although the city already has more than two existing cockpits within its jurisdiction, it still can grant a franchise for the operation of another cockpit.

The issue was referred to the Gamefowl Commission after Councilors Jose “Joey” Daluz III and Richard Osmeña proposed the granting of a franchise to RMI Cockpit Arena to operate in Inayawan. The records showed that RMI Cockpit Arena is owned by Lutherlee Ignacio-Soon, daughter of the barangay chairman.

Once the city will grant a franchise to RMI Cockpit Area, its operator is required to pay P30,000 annually as franchise fee, the proposed ordinance provides.

Pe had asked city lawyer Joseph Bernaldez to give a legal opinion about the proposed granting of a franchise for the operation of another cockpit in Inayawan because of the provisions as stated under the country’s Cockfighting Law: “Only one cockpit shall be allowed in each city or municipality, except in cities or municipalities with a population of over 100,000 wherein two cockpits may be established, maintained and operated.”

At present, Cebu City already has more than two cockpits. These are situated in barangay Sawang Calero, another one in sitio Banawa, Guadalupe; and the third one is located on the mountain barangay of Pung-ol Sibugay.

In 1978, the Cockfighting Law was amended through Presidential Decree 1310 and it already provides that while only one cockpit shall be allowed in each city or municipality, but in those cities or municipalities with a population of more than 100,000 two cockpits may be established in the poblacion; however, such provision was added with the words “and one in each city or town district.”

Here in Cebu City, however, there are only two districts – the north and the south.

The proposed ordinance is scheduled to be submitted before the City Council for the third and final reading in the next regular session.

Daluz, who sponsored the proposed ordinance for the granting of a franchise to RMI Cockpit Arena, said that in one city of Metro Manila it has more than two cockpits and until now these continue to operate.

But he said that if somebody would want to question the operation of more than two cockpits in a particular place like in Cebu City, they can do it by filing a case in court so that the issue will be resolved once and for all. — Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)