Raps filed vs. Leyte, Bohol local execs over unlawful cockfighting

The Office of the Ombudsman has filed charges against several local officials from Leyte and Bohol for allegedly allowing cockfighting in their respective towns beyond what is permitted in the law.

Charged with two counts of violation of the Presidential Decree No. 449 or the Cockfighting Law of 1974 were Burauen, Leyte former mayor Fe Sudario-Renomeron and then-municipal councilors David Alcober, Felipe Coral Jr., Antonio Tan, Luis Marlon Torres, Benoni Pocpoc, Ed Gabril Guimba and Roger Serdoncillo.

Also charged with one count of the same violation were Ubay, Bohol former mayor Galicano Atup; vice mayor Nelson Uy; and councilors Efren Tanjay, Victor Bonghanoy, Isidore Besas, Sabiniano Atupan and Eustaqio Bacolod.

Along with them were then-Barangay Union, Ubay, Leyte captain Merlinda Gallego; kagawad members Rod Arthur Cañete, Alan Mendez, Letecia Bunado, Constantina Villasan, Antonio Cutamora, Johnny Jim Garces; and barangay treasurer Arme Taan.

In the case of the Burauen, Leyte officials, the Ombudsman said the respondents "willfully, unlawfully and criminally" allowed cockfighting to operate in the town during days that are not Sundays, legal holidays or local fiestas.

This was made possible when the respondents passed and approved Municipal Resolution No. 2008-07, granting the Burauen Games and Amusement Corporation the authority to allow cockfighting on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays of the year 2008, and Municipal Resolution No. 2008-24, which allowed the same corporation to hold a special cockfight on Wednesdays for April 2008 onwards except in May.

In the case of Ubay, Bohol officials, the Ombudsman said the respondents connived with one another in endorsing, allowing and approving a cockfighting event during the town fiesta even though its venue, the Union Cultural and Sports Center, was not a licensed cockpit.

Section 5(d) of PD 449 states that cockfighting may only be allowed in licensed cockpits during Sundays and legal holidays and during local fiestas for not more than three days.

The Ombudsman has recommended P20,000 bail for each of the Burauen, Leyte officials—P10,000 for each count of violation.

A P12,000 bail was recommended for each Ubay, Bohol official. — BM, GMA News