ILOILO City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) here passed a resolution interposing no objection to E-Sports Encuentro Live Corp.’s delayed digital broadcast of cock derbies in this city.
Ten city councilors voted in favor of the resolution. They were Romel Duron (proponent), Lyndon Acap (co-sponsor), Mandrei Malabor, Eduardo Peñaredondo, Leila Luntao, Ma. Irene Ong, Jay Treñas, Jojo Javellana, Ely Estante, and Allan Zaldivar.
Councilors Frances Grace Pardon-Torres and Rudolph Ganzon voted against it while Councilor Candice Tupas abstained.
Under the resolution, E-Sports Encuentro must secure a special permit every time it covers cockfights in the city for delayed digital broadcast.
E-Sports Encuentro needed to secure a resolution of no objection (RONO) from the city council as a requirement for their application for a sports betting franchise from the Philippine Gaming and Amusement Corp. (PAGCOR).
Supposedly, there was a scheduled cockfight at the Mandurriao Cockpit Arena yesterday but both the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office head Jeck Conlu and Mandurriao Cockpit manager Frank Solijon confirmed it did not push through due to lack of pertinent papers to hold the event.
Meanwhile, Iloilo City’s mayor Jerry Treñas said he will order an investigation on reports that there were cockfighting events that transpired despite the lack of guidelines yet from PAGCOR.
To note, the Inter-Agency for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases still disallowed the traditional cock derbies while it gave a green light to e-cockfighting.
On the other hand, during city council’s regular session on April 13, Duron also proposed an ordinance requiring cockpit operators and online franchise holders to secure special permits in covering online cockfighting events here. This was referred to the committee on ways and means.
To recall, during one of the committee hearings regarding the request of E-Sports Encuentro for a RONO, Atty. Jun Altura, legal adviser of Panay Gamefowl Breeder Association (PAGBA), suggested to the SP that the city may require the online cockpit operators to secure special permit every time they cover or stream a cockfight.
“Amo lang ‘na ang paagi nga maka earn man ang LGU (local government unit) out of this activity,” said Altura.
“I don’t know if kinahanglan i-amend gid ninyo ang inyo Local Tax Code or butangan n’yo lang rider da sa RONO nga they cannot cover unless they secure a special permit. This is a small amount man lang kay daku ni ang revenue nga gin-generate sang facility nga ‘ni. Indi lang ‘ni sa local, they are getting bets all over the world,” Altura told the city council.
He noted that online bulang operators only secure annual permit, mayor’s permit, and one-time payment of the franchise tax./PN