Ex-Leyte mayor ordered jailed for allowing weekly barangay cockfights

Former Babatngon, Leyte mayor Charita Chan has been sentenced to six to seven years in prison for allowing the Liga ng mga Barangay to hold weekly cockfights.

In a 16-page decision promulgated on February 20, the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division found Chan "guilty beyond reasonable doubt" for one count of violation of Section 3(j) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Aside from jail time, the former mayor was also perpetually barred from holding public office.

Chan was accused of issuing a Mayor's Permit in April 2012 allowing the Liga ng mga Barangay to hold cockfights every Saturday, despite prohibitions stated under Sections 5(d) and 5(e) of the Cockfighting Law of 1974 and Municipal Ordinance No. 281.

The Sandiganbayan said the municipal resolution backed by the permit "appeared to have been instigated by (Chan) herself" based on her March 23, 2012 endorsement letter.

It further said that the Liga ng mga Barangay is not entitled to operate cockfights "considering that the league is composed of barangay officials who are prohibited from having interests in cockpit operations" under Section 89(a)(2) of the Local Government Code.

"Thus, it was undoubtedly irregular for the accused to grant a Mayor's Permit to the Liga ng mga Barangay 'to hold cockfight at the Barangay District III, Babatngon, Leyte, every Saturday' to which it is not legally entitled," the decision read.

Meanwhile, the Sandiganbayan acquitted Chan from one count of violating the same provision of the anti-graft law due to insufficiency of evidence.

The case was based on Chan's alleged issuance of a Mayor's Permit of Babatngon Gallera's cockpit operation despite knowledge that its owner, Nicomedes Alde, is an incumbent councilor and president of the Liga ng mga Barangay.

The Sandiganbayan, however, said the prosecution failed to present the permit proving its issuance in favor of Babatngon Gallera.

"The burden of proving guilt is upon the prosecution which rests upon its proof of the elements of the indictment, specifically the alleged issuance of the Mayor's Permit. On this score, the court finds the prosecution failed to discharge the burden," it said. —ALG, GMA News