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A COCKFIGHTING event organizer has been issued show cause orders for failing to comply with requirements to launch cockfighting events and may face charges for operating without necessary permits.
Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia confirmed that as of October, a show cause order was already issued to Ox KBDF Gaming for failing to comply with requirements.
The organizer staged cockfighting events on April 21, May 23-24, Aug. 27-29 and Oct. 11-18, 2024.
Garcia said the Business Process and Licensing Office (BPLO) had already finished its investigation.
The mayor said two show cause orders were issued against the organizer last October.
“The incident is already with the BPLO and the Cebu City Legal Office for appropriate legal action, such as filing of complaints,” said Garcia.
Clarification
Garcia also clarified that a Letter of No Objection (Lono) is not a permit or an authority for event organizers to proceed with the event.
In the case of Ox KBDF Gaming, Garcia said the Lono released had certain conditions that the organizer did not comply with.
“That (Letter of) No Objection, that is still the first phase, and the remaining they have yet to comply,” Garcia said.
He said the organizer, upon receiving his Lono, should have also secured the approval or permit of the Gamefowl Commission and approval of the City Council before staging the event.
A complaint was filed last Nov. 18 against Garcia and Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Col. Antonietto Cañete for allowing the cockfighting event without the necessary permit.
Former Cebu City School Board and Department of General Services head Kristian Hassamal filed the charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for grave misconduct in violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Allegations
Hassamal alleged that Garcia deliberately disregarded the legal process after issuing several Lonos, resulting in the issuance of special permits in favor of Ox KBDF Gaming.
He argued that the event venue was not a licensed cockfighting area, it was mostly held on weekdays and it had no resolution or special permit from the Gamefowl Commission.
Hassamal said that after the Lonos were issued by Garcia, special permits were issued by BPLO on certain conditions.
Garcia, however, pointed out that these conditions were not complied with, thus making the events illegal.
Cañete was included in the complaint because of his alleged “acquiescence” to these events, and his being a law enforcer constituted not only negligence but also failure to implement regulations over the legal requirements of cockfighting based on national and local laws.
Cañete assumed office as CCPO director in August. / EHP