THE City Government of Bacolod has temporarily stopped the issuance of special permits for cockfighting activities in various barangays in the city.

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said they will strictly scrutinize all applications for special permits especially for cockfighting as well as the “peryahans.”

“We are not allowing it because it might be used for illegal gambling. I think we already reached the maximum cockpits in the city,” he said.

Aside from the cockpits, he added that the city will also regulate the “peryahan” because some of its games are no longer suited for the social games.

The mayor noted that based on the report of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), some of the games at the “peryahan” are illegal.

Benitez said there are only selected activities that will be allowed in the barangays for the “peryahans.”

He said several barangays are applying a special permit for cockfighting or peryahan during the celebration of their fiestas.

He added that he will ask the City Council to put a moratorium on the existing ordinance that allows the said activities in the barangays.

For his part, Councilor Al Victor Espino, chairperson of the City Council committee on laws, said the city has an existing City Ordinance 244 or an Ordinance promulgating the rules/regulations and providing for the fees in the licensing, construction, establishment, operation and maintenance of cockpits and cockfighting in the city.

He said the ordinance was authored by former councilor Dindo Ramos.

He added the ordinance allows cockfighting on three occasions such as fiesta, barangay charter day, and if the barangay passes a resolution for tourism purposes and for three days only.

Espino disclosed that he will defend the ordinance because he is the member of the City Council.