San Nicolas nixes brgy cockfights

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff Reporter

San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte—The municipal council here has returned all barangay resolutions requesting the holding of “tupada”, or cockfights, during their respective fiesta celebrations.

Sangguniang Bayan member Atty. Reynaldo Corpuz, chairperson of the council’s committee on law, said three barangay resolutions were referred to his committee. The said resolutions, coming from Brgys. 6, 7, and 14, requested the holding of “tupadas” during their respective fiestas.

These resolutions however were returned to the said barangays.

Corpuz explained that the resolutions have no legal basis. He added that the requests were later referred to San Nicolas Mayor Melanie Grace Valdez as she has the discretion to give these barangays special permits to hold cockfights.

But as far as the Sangguniang Bayan is concerned, Corpuz said they cannot grant them their request as this would go against the existing policy of law.

The lawyer-lawmaker has also attached a case in his committee report. The attachment is about a case in Bohol where the mayor was convicted by the Sandiganbayan for issuing eight special permits for “tupada”. The conviction was for eight counts.

Corpus stressed that is not the Sangguniang Bayan neither the Office of the Mayor that allows or disallows cockfights but the law.

He added that cockfighting is only legal provided that the “tupada” is conducted in a licensed cockpit and must not be more than three days, and must not be within the legal holidays provided by the cockfighting law.

It should not also be conducted for fundraising and other charitable activities. Its purposes should also be sanctioned or permitted by the national government.

Reacting to this, Ms. Valdez said she has not issued any special permit for barangays to hold cockfights.