CONTRARY to the news reports that have been circulating in various media, the Manila Cockers Club Inc. operations are legal and valid, according to Daniel Victor Lazatin, Executive Vice President of MCCI.
Lazatin emphasized that MCCI and its off-cockpit betting stations (OCBS) have the necessary permits from the appropriate local government units for the operation of the cockpit in the Municipality of Carmona and its OCBS in different cities in Metro Manila, which includes Quezon City.
All the OCBS that have the events of MCCI and where gamers are allowed to participate, have obtained the necessary business permits from the corresponding Business Permits Licensing Offices of these cities. Before an OCBS can get business permit, it is required that they obtain a barangay clearance where the OCBS is located.
These requirements are in compliance with the directives of the Games and Amusements Board as provided for in its decision dated April 10, 2017, which unanimously upheld the legality of the operations of the Manila Cockers Club and its Off-cockpit Betting Stations.
The GAB ruled that Manila Cockers was granted a franchise by the Municipality of Carmona, Cavite to establish, maintain and operate a cockpit arena under Municipal Ordinance No. 017-2014.
The GAB recognized that the Local Government Code vested the local government units with sole and exclusive authority to regulate cockfighting. According to the GAB: “with the enactment of the RA 7160 (Local Government Code of 1991) specifically Sec. 447 (a)(3)(v) thereof, the law vested the local government units with the following authority, any law to the contrary notwithstanding, to wit:
Authorize and license the establishment, operation, and maintenance of cockpits; Regulate cockfighting, and Regulate commercial breeding of gamecocks.”
The GAB likewise acknowledged that Manila Cockers was authorized to offer, take and arrange bets in person or by any electronic or other means of processing transactions under its franchise.
The GAB stated that “MCCI was authorized 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.”
The GAB further stated that it “recognizes the authority of each and every LGU over cockfighting in its own territorial jurisdiction. This includes the power to decide whether or not to allow the subject betting in OCBS and under what conditions.”
The GAB’s ruling affirms the legality of the OCBS operations of MCCI.
On account of the foregoing, the GAB reiterated its directive to MCCI in its letter dated Dec. 6, 2016 for MCCI to obtain the required local permits for the operation of its OCBS.
Furthermore, the GAB upheld the position of MCCI that its operations at the OCBS is in accordance with the E-Commerce Act (RA 8792). MCCI established a system for accepting bets on cockfights which includes a totalizator and off-site terminals at the OCBS.
Since MCCI’s totalizator and servers are located at Carmona, Cavite, a bet in MCCI’s OCBS terminal it transacted, accepted, and confirmed in Carmona, Cavite.
According to Atty. Peter Zagala, MCCI does not condone or allow any form of illegal gambling and hence, all efforts are being made that MCCI is in full compliance with the appropriate provisions of the Local Government Code as well as all other relevant laws such as the E-Commerce Act.
Because MCCI operations are legal, it continues to grow in popularity this year among sabong enthusiasts all over the nation. The established legality of its operations has encouraged more participation by known breeders during its derbies as well as interest from cockfighting gaming aficionados.
The rise in popularity has allowed MCCI to increase its remittance of taxes to the National Government pursuant to Sec. 125 par. 1(a) of the National Internal Revenue Code as well as business taxes due to the local government units.
