Mayor ‘Tinto’ Bascon says cockfighting is part of Filipino tradition.
Mayor Agustin ‘Tinto’ Bascon of Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental is ready to face the charge filed against him in the Sandiganbayan and is confident that he shall be on the winning side in the end.
A criminal case was filed against the local chief executive by the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged illegal cockfighting operations in his hometown.
The Ombudsman through its Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), charged the mayor for violation of Section 5 (D) of Presidential Decree 449 otherwise known as the Cockfighting Law of 1974.
Based on a case information sheet, Bascon “willfully, unlawfully, and criminally” allowed the holding of cockfight in the city every Sunday from November 11, 2012 to January 4, 2013, even without the necessary approval of the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) as required under Section 5 (D) of PD 449.
The OSP also said that Bascon granted the permit to hold cockfighting events to a certain Pablito Villaruel, who did not have a license to operate a cockpit.
The OSP recommended a P10,000 bail bond for the re-elected mayor.
A certification attached in the charge sheet reads, “This is to certify that, based on the records, a preliminary investigation has been conducted; that there is a sufficient ground to engender a well-founded belief that the crime charged has been committed; and that the accused is probably guilty thereof”.
In an interview with a local radio station in Bacolod, Bascon said that cockfighting is a part of the Filipino tradition and is held all over the country, especially during fiesta celebrations.
He also said that his lawyers are working on their defense to the charge and expressed his confidence that the Sandiganbayan will find the truth behind the allegations.
He refused to comment on the question that the case was filed by a political rival.