Ormoc gov’t sets stricter rules on cockfighting

ORMOC CITY, Leyte, Feb. 23 (PNA) - The city government here is stepping up its anti-illegal cockfighting drive down to the village level.

Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez wants to stop all forms of illegal gambling in his city, especially the unlawful cockfighting, traditionally held days before fiesta celebrations in villages.

Gomez recalled that the previous administration allowed cockfighting down to the 110 villages and even granting permit for up to five days of cockfighting ahead of fiesta.

“If we will allow having cockfighting in all villages, including sub-villages, we might have cockfighting all year round in this city,” Gomez pointed out.

Cockfighting is a brutal blood sport that encourages roosters to fight to their deaths.

Ormoc City has two cockpit arena identified as lawful venue. The city will only give permit to cockfighting event in villages, but only during the day of fiesta celebration.

Under Presidential Decree No. 1310, a town or a city with more than 100,000 population is allowed to have two cock fighting arenas. Based on the 2015 census, Ormoc City has a total population of 215,031.

Illegal numbers game and other form of illegal gambling may also exist in Ormoc, according to Gomez, but his focus is more on curbing illegal cockfighting because this is one of the most common causes of marriage problems.

“Husbands go home with nothing to give to their wives because they all lost their money in gambling,” the mayor added. (PNA)
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