'Tigbakay is already part of Filipino culture'

CEBU, Philippines - Although he is not a cockfighting fan, Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña said he strongly supports the move of the City Council to increase to six the number of cockpits that will be allowed to operate in Cebu City as “it would be very difficult to stop the culture of the Filipinos.”

He admitted that he has even discouraged the policemen from raiding “tigbakay” during barangay fiestas, adding that the move to increase the number of cockpits in the city is one way to minimize the illegal cockfights in the barangays. With the mayor’s support to the proposal, there is already an assurance that the City Council will surely pass the ordinance that will benefit the operator of RMI Cockpit who is planning to operate a cockpit in Barangay Inayawan.

The City Council’s committee on laws has strongly recommended that a public hearing be conducted on the proposal to hear the sentiments of the concerned persons.

Under the Local Government Code, local government units are empowered to authorize and issue license about the establishment, operation and maintenance of cockpits, including the regulation of cockfighting.

The Cebu City Gamefowl Commission has already endorsed the approval of an ordinance that will grant a franchise to Lutherlee Ignacio-Soon, daughter of Inayawan barangay captain Rustico “Rustom” Ignacio, to operate the cockpit in Inayawan.

The existing National Cockfighting Law provides that “only one cockpit shall be allowed in each city or municipality, except that in cities or municipalities with a population of over 100,000 two cockpits may be established, maintained and operated.”

Even if the law only allows the city to have two cockpits, at present, the city already have three existing cockpits that are situated in barangays Sawang Calero, Guadalupe, and Pung-ol Sibugay. — Rene U. Borromeo/WAB   (FREEMAN NEWS) (FREEMAN NEWS)