Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. and former Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez has denied allegations that he abused his authority by issuing a permit for cockfighting operations without a franchise.
Benitez issued a statement over the weekend that the applicant fully complied with all registration and operation requirements under Victorias City Ordinance 2023-35. The lawmaker said the provincial board of Negros Occidental also reviewed the measure and declared it valid in June 2023.
The case, pending before the Office of the Ombudsman for the Visayas in Cebu City, centers on whether the mayor overstepped his bounds by granting the permit. Benitez said the issuance of the permit followed the Local Government Code and that no national law requires a “resolution of no objection” or a formal franchise for cockpits in the city.
Benitez said such requirements generally apply to businesses regulated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. rather than cockfighting venues. He said that under a 1993 executive order, cockpits fall under the jurisdiction of the Games and Amusements Board.
The board issued a resolution in August 2024 advising applicants to secure permits directly from local government units. Under Republic Act 7160, the authority to regulate and license cockpits is held by the city council, while the local chief executive is responsible for issuing the business permits.
