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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Saturday, April 22, 2017
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ILOILO City – Rockwell Lumber and Cockpit Arena in Lapuz district may no longer operate, Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog stressed.
Mabilog directed the Business Permits and Licensing Office and the Task Force on Internet Online Services, Gaming Centers, Anti-Piracy and Pornography (TF-IGCAPP), with the assistance of the police, to implement the closure.
But the owner volunteered to halt the cockpit operations even before the said offices served the order on April 18, said TF-IGCAPP chief Ben Palma.
“March 12 pa lang nag-voluntary stop na sila,” Palma said. “Indi na sila makapabulang unless i-lift ini nga executive order nga gin-sign sang aton nga mayor.”
The order to close the cockpit was contained in Executive Order (EO) No. 35 dated April 17.
However, not all hope is lost. The cockpit may resume operations provided that the owner complies with requirements.
“Mahulat pa sila. Kon makumpleto nila tanan-tanan nila nga papers kag may franchise na sila … before i-release ang ila business permit, i-lift anay ini ang executive order ni mayor,” Palma added.
Even with its franchise still pending with the Sangguniang Panlungsod and its business permit “on hold,” the cockpit was regularly holding cockfights every Sunday.
“In accordance with the law, operating any form business in this city without (business) permit is illegal,” City Administrator Hernando Galvez previously said.
Operating without a franchise is a violation Presidential Decree (PD) 449 as amended by PD 1310, or the Cockfighting Law of 1974, said Galvez, a lawyer by profession.
In issuing the EO, Mabilog cited Section 255 of City Ordinance No. 2007-016, or the Revised Local Revenue Code of the Iloilo City.
A business owner shall be issued a written notice at least 10 days before the date of the revocation of permit/franchise and/or closure, except when the business involves illegal activities stipulated under the Revised Penal Code or other penal laws on fraudulent acts, the local law said.
The city chief executive also cited a Feb. 2 EO issued by President Rodrigo Duterte directing law enforcers to intensify the campaign against illegal gambling in coordination with concerned agencies./PN
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