COCKFIGHTING is illegal, but people are practicing it as part of the tradition.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama stressed this in a press conference at City Hall Monday, April 24, 2023, as he announced that he had not issued any order to legalize or allow it.
Rama’s statement came after licensed cockpit owners in Cebu complained that they were scolded by police for operating on weekdays despite the existence of Ordinance 2171 amending City Ordinance 1447, which allows licensed cockpits to operate on any day of the week except during Independence Day, Good Friday, and Election Day.
Rama said he never declared that cockfights are allowed, but he acknowledged that Cebuanos will always find a way to hold cockfights especially during fiestas.
On April 19, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia called on the police to stop raiding cockfighting events in areas within the province that have permission from the local government.
She said sabong is allowed in Cebu as long as it has the approval of the local government.
Under Presidential Decree (PD) 449 or the “Cockfighting Law of 1974,” cockfighting activities should only be done in licensed arenas and should not be held on Sunday, holidays and during local fiestas.
Garcia said though that this has been repealed a long time ago after the Local Government Code was signed into law. (Ralph Martinez, BIPSU intern)