BACOLOD City — The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) has moved to intensify the crackdown on illegal cockfighting, urging authorities to step up enforcement amid growing concerns over unregulated operations across the city.
In a recently approved resolution authored by Councilor Atty. Caesar Distrito, the council called on the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) and the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) to strengthen monitoring, regulation, and apprehension efforts against unauthorized cockfighting activities.
Under existing laws and ordinances, cockfighting is a regulated activity, and only events duly authorized by the city council are considered lawful. These include cockfighting activities conducted in barangays during fiestas and charter days, subject to proper authorization and regulation.
However, Distrito noted that illegal cockfighting persists in various forms, including operations outside licensed cockpits, events held on non-permitted days, and activities conducted without proper authorization.
The councilor said the measure also responds to concerns raised by legitimate cockpit operators in Bacolod City, who have expressed alarm over the unfair competition posed by illegal operators.
These unauthorized activities not only undermine lawful businesses but also deprive the city of legitimate revenues and weaken regulatory enforcement.
Beyond unfair competition, city officials warned that unlicensed operations erode the regulatory framework governing gaming activities and result in lost public income.
Distrito stressed that the city’s authority to regulate such events is firmly grounded in the Local Government Code of 1991, underscoring the need for stricter enforcement.
“It is imperative that this authority be upheld to protect legitimate operators and ensure public order,” he said.
The resolution also highlights the crucial role of the BCPO in maintaining peace and order, alongside the GAB’s mandate to oversee gaming and sporting activities related to cockfighting.
With the measure, the city council reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lawful businesses, preserving public order, and clamping down on illegal gambling-related activities.
As Bacolod ramps up enforcement efforts, authorities face the challenge of dismantling entrenched illegal operations while restoring confidence in the city’s regulatory system./PN
