Abbu asks legality of special cockfight permit on weekdays

Councilor Jose Pepe S. Abbu, Jr., on Monday, said the legislative body should ensure that there is legal basis in granting permit to hold special cockfights during weekdays.

The councilor manifested this during the 15th regular session of the 20th City Council presided over by City Vice Mayor Jocelyn B. Rodriguez, as he asked the legality of holding special cockfight on a weekday.

This in view of the permit applications of Canitoan-Pagatpat Cockers Association for a special cockfight on October 19, 2022 and Indahag Square Garden for a 3-Stag Derby on October 28, 2022.

“I only raise this question as I feel obligated as a member of the bar and a member of the Sanggunian,” he stressed.

Councilor Abbu said pursuant to Presidential Decree 449 or the Cockfighting Law of 1974, the days allowed to hold cockfighting in the country are only Sundays, local fiestas, and legal holidays and during agricultural expositions, and commercial or industrial fairs.

He also cited the Supreme Court ruling that LGUs can enact an ordinance governing cockfights but it shall do so within the bounds defined and restricted by the cockfighting law, adding that the Sanggunian pursuant to the said law cannot enact an ordinance allowing the holding of derbies on weekdays except in instances allowed by law.

“I hope that any member of this august body can shed light on me… because what was cited (by the City Legal Office) is only the provisions found in the city ordinance but there (is) no discussion … as to whether it contravenes PD 449, (the) controlling national law,” he opined.

Councilor Abbu warned that the legislative body should be cautious in approving the said applications because the law has penal provisions.

“We should have a legal basis on whether we should approve it or not so that we will not face any legal repercussions later on,” he concluded.

After thorough discussions, the legislative body approved the derby application of Canitoan-Pagatpat Cockers Association with Councilor Abbu and six other councilors abstaining, while the Indahag Square Garden’s was unanimously deferred and referred to the City Legal Office for further study.