22 hurt as cockpit arena bleacher collapses

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  - At least 22 patrons were hurt, two of them seriously, when the bleacher of a cockpit center collapsed amid bettors chanting during a cockfight  Saturday night in the west coast village of this city, according to police.

The victims were brought to the Zamboanga City Medical Center and Brent Hospital for treatment.

Ayala Police Station commander Senior Inspector Edilberto Alvarez said the cockpit square arena of Gallera de Ayala in Barangay Ayala was almost filled to its capacity when one of the bleacher’s wings collapsed about 7 p.m. Saturday while the derby was on going.

The victims came down crashing as the bleachers gave in and collapsed, said Alvarez.

“We were also focused on chanting our bets on our chosen game fowl and suddenly the bleacher started to collapse,” one of the victims told newsmen at the hospital.

The police said some of the cockpit patrons were able to jump to the other side and avoided the accident.

The police added that the derby resumed after it was briefly halted by the incident. - Roel Pareño