Negros Occ. mayor faces lawsuit for ‘illegal’ cockfighting operations

The Office of Ombudsman has filed a criminal case against the re-elected mayor of Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental for alleged illegal cockfighting operations.

In a case information sheet filed before the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan, the Ombudsman through its Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), charged Mayor Agustin Ernesto Bascon for violation of Section 5 (D) of Presidential Decree 449 or the Cockfighting Law of 1974.

Based on the charge sheet, Bascon “willfully, unlawfully, and criminally” allowed the holding of cockfight in the city every Sunday from November 11, 2012 to January 4, 2013, even without the necessary approval of the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) as required under Section 5 (D) of PD 449.

Also, the OSP said Bascon granted the permit to hold cockfighting events to a certain Pablito Villaruel, who did not have a license to operate a cockpit.

The OSP recommended a P10,000 bail bond for Bascon’s provisional liberty.

“This is to certify that, based on the records, a preliminary investigation has been conducted; that there is a sufficient ground to engender a well-founded belief that the crime charged has been committed; and that the accused is probably guilty thereof,” a certification attached in the charge sheet reads.

Bascon was re-elected as mayor of Himamaylan City on May 9, 2016 elections.

As of posting time, GMA News Online was trying to reach the mayor for his comment. — LBG, GMA News