THIS is to clarify certain matters raised in the article entitled “Legality of Manila Cockers Club’s operations upheld,” which appeared on Monday, May 22, 2017 at the Sports Section of your newspaper.
First of all, the article failed to mention that the decision dated April 10, 2017 partially granted the prayer of the complainants and that GAB has already ordered the closure of all off-cockpit betting stations operating without the consent of the local government units where they are located. In the interest of accuracy, the decision stated:
“In view of the foregoing, the letters and/or complaints of Tionloc et al.} Nicson Cruz, Jesli Lapuz and Metro Manila Turf Club, Inc. assailing the authority of MCCI to offer and take bets via the OTB stations outside of the cockpit arena of MCCI in Carmona, Cavite are deemed PARTIALLY GRANTED in that the off-cockpit betting stations operating without authority from the respective local government units have been ordered closed. However, the prayer for GAB to close down all OCBS is DENIED considering and in due respect of the authority granted to them by the LGU’s which have jurisdiction over cockfighting in their areas. The prayer to withdraw the authority to broadcast and/or livestream given to MCCI is likewise DENIED for lack of merit as discussed above.”
Secondly, your article may be misunderstood to mean that it was GAB that granted MCCI the authority to “offer, take and arrange bets in person or by any electronic or other means of processing transactions under its franchise” and “to utilize any available online, digital, wireless or electronic platform services that may facilitate the taking and acceptance of bets outside of the territorial jurisdiction of Carmona, Cavite” as mentioned in paragraphs 6 and 7, respectively, of your article. The GAB has no power to grant any authority to take bets relative to local cockfighting as the regulation of local cockfighting has long been devolved to the local government units pursuant to the Local Government Code of 1991. MCCI’s authority to broadcast/livestream its cockfights which was granted on April 21, 2016 does not carry with it any authority to take bets, electronic or otherwise.
The April 10, 2017 decision actually stated that:
“Under Municipal Ordinance No.017-2014of the local government of Carmona, Cavite, MCCI is authorized to offer, take or arrange bets for cockfights in person or by any electronic or other means of processing transactions. It may also utilize any available online, digital, wireless, or electronic facilitate the taking and acceptance of bets outside of territorial jurisdiction of Carmona, Cavite. Likewise, under the license granted by the master licensor ofAPBCO, MCCI is authorized to utilize any available online, digital, wireless or electronic platform services and any other similar or relate platform services including off cockpit betting stations located within and outside the Philippines.
As the grantee of the foregoing authorities from the local government of Carmona, Cavite and the APECO, pursuant to RA 7160 and RA No. 10083 (Creating the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone (APECO), respectively, MCCI is therefore authorized to take and accept bets outside of its cockpit arena. Nevertheless, it has always been GAB’s position that the betting stations should be duly authorized by the local government units concerned.”
Finally, it should be pointed out that the authority granted to MCCI to broadcast/livestream its cockfights is based on GAB’s residual powers over cockfighting not otherwise devolved to the local government units. In order to protect the betting public, GAB merely ensures that: “the cockfights are held in cockpits duly authorized by the local government; the actual cockfights are likewise authorized by the local government and in case of international derbies; the same are duly authorized by the GAB; the applicant is authorized in accordance with law to show the cockfights and take bets elsewhere; the receiving cockpits or off-cockpit stations are likewise duly authorized by the local government; there is no game-fixing; and the cockfights so covered willnot be or are not being used for illegal betting outside of authorized cockpits.”
As of now, MCCI’s authority to livestream/broadcast that was granted on April 21, 2016 has already expired. GAB has already informed the local government units concerned for their appropriate action based on the exercise of their mandate over cockfighting in their respective localities.
We hope that this clarification will also be disseminated in the same manner as the original article, in the interest of accurate and balanced journalism.
Thank you and best regards.
By Authority of the Board:
Atty. ERMAR BENITEZ
Chief, Legal Division
Games and Amusements Board
May 22, 2017, Makati City.