Cockpit owner complains about unfair competition

CEBU, Philippines - A private cockpit operator complained has asked Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez to put a stop to cockfights at the New Talisay Sports Complex.

In his letter addressed to Fernandez, Sugarland Arena cockpit, through its lawyer Raul Bacaltos, complained that the management of the New Talisay Sports Complex allows holding of cockfights every Saturday when it is not allowed.

“In behalf of Sugarland Arena, I have the honor to request from your office that the holding of cockfights every Saturday by the New Talisay Sports Complex be stopped,” Bacaltos said.

The Sugarland Arena cockpit was established by an ordinance in the early 1996.

Since February 1997, the Sugarland holds its regular cockfights and derbies during Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday while the New Talisay Sports Complez also holds its regular cockfights during Sunday,  Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

“In other words, there was an equal distribution of days in holding cockfights and derbies,” Bacaltos said.

But Bacaltos observed that since 2011 until the present, the sports complex holds cockfights every Saturday when this schedule is for Sugarland.

According to Bacaltos, the actuation of the sports complex in holding cockfights on Saturdays is not fair to Sugarland.

He said if cockfights continue at the Talisay Sports Complex every Saturday, it might create a conflict between the Sugarland and the management of sports complex. (FREEMAN)