ILOILO City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) committee on games and amusement is taking on the controversial cockfighting allegedly held at the Rockwell Cockpit Arena in Lapuz district.
An investigation in aid legislation will commence after Holy Week, according to Councilor Carlos “Jojo” Javellana, committee chairman.
Among others, Javellana said, the management of Rockwell Cockpit Arena must explain the alleged cockfighting when there were issuances prohibiting it.
“Tani may respeto man sila sa layi,” Javellana stressed. “Kon indi pwede, indi na tani pwede. Kon wala ka garespeto, ano na lang matabo diri sa aton?”
Javellana said they will also invite Don Esteban, Lapuz punong barangay Elfren Cenayo and get his side on the prohibited event.
DILG SATISFIED WITH TREÑAS
Director Oscar Lim of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Iloilo City said they have reliable sources attesting there was indeed a bulang.
He added that the cockpit operator – former Don Esteban punong barangay Rodrigo Dellomes – has to explain the matter to Mayor Jerry Treñas. It is also upon the disposition of the city mayor what steps to take next.
As to Treñas, Lim believed that the mayor doesn’t have to say more because “wala man sila nagpabaya…naobra naman ‘ya sang city ila part.”
Lim was referring to Treñas’ thumbing down to Dellomes’ plea of holding an online sabong on March 22.
He further cited the March 20 advisory issued by Treñas and the subsequent reiteration of an earlier advisory basing on the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Resolution No. 104 similarly prescribing the temporary suspension of cockfighting and cockpit operations.
Treñas issued a show-cause order to Dellomes directing him to “provide a written explanation”.
Regarding Cenayo’s possible liability, Lim said it depends on the result of the investigation and to the city mayor, since punong barangays are under the supervision of the local chief executive.
On their part, he said they will conduct a separate investigation. He also advised Cenayo to submit an explanation or narrative.
CENAYO ADMITS LAPSES
Cenayo finally granted media interviews after being silent for a few days. He admitted that barangay officials had lapses.
“Ga-ako ko nga may lapses kami. Amo na ang lapses nga dapat tadlungon namon kon tagaan pa kami sang isa ka kahigayunan. Amo na hambal ko, kon may schedule pa nga antes ang April 4 indi gid kami magpahanugot kay natabo na ina sa amon,” Cenayo said in an interview over DyRI RMN Iloilo.
Though he had knowledge about the scheduled cockfighting, Cenayo said he really did not know it pushed through on March 22 because he was in Capiz due to a family emergency.
He only learned of the event when he came home on March 23. He furthered that he did not immediately face and speak to the media because he sought “consultations” first over statements he would be issuing.
“Syempre antes ako magsabat ginapamangkot ta man anay ang punto por punto antes kita magbuya sang tinaga…Indi man totally nga nanago kita. Nag-kwan ta anay, nagpangonseho ta anay,” he added./PN
