Laoag City—Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Vicentito “Toto” M. Lazo questioned the operation of the Laoag City Cockpit Arena without the needed permits and approval.
Mr. Lazo stressed that the provincial board has yet to review the franchise ordinance passed by the Laoag City council granted to the operator.
The cockpit arena conducted a derby on November 10, 2017.
Laoag mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas reasoned that she gave the operator a “special permit” to operate. She added that she based this on the opinion and advise of the city government’s legal officer.
She stated further that the permit she granted contained provisions that abide by all the requirements set forth by the franchise ordinance passed by the council.
The permit specifically states: “This permit is subject to the condition that all laws, ordinances, resolutions, general orders, Presidential Decrees, letters of instructions and letters of implementation governing the matter shall be strictly complied with”.
Ms. Fariñas went on to say that the person granted the permit may not have analyzed and interpreted the last portion of the permit properly. She said the last portion contained the condition.
She expressed hopes that all concerned will settle the problem soon. She added that the permittee, Alejandro B. Taylan, is “Very vocal, open and willing to whatever suggestions and recommendations to be made”.
Meanwhile, Laoag government’s business permit and licensing officer (BPLO) Melvin Manuel also confirmed that the special permit issued was only for the November 10 derby.
Earlier, the Laoag Sangguniang Panlungsod passed the franchise ordinance for Mr. Taylan to “establish, operate and maintain the conduct of cockfighting in the city of Laoag”. They passed the ordinance on October 30, 2017.
After the passage, Mr. Taylan immediately asked for a special permit for the November 10, 2017 derby from the mayor.
On November 20, 2017. During their regular session, the council received another letter received endorsed by the office of the city mayor requesting again another special permit for the conduct of Derby on November 17, December 8, 15 and 26, 2017. All the requests were from Mr. Taylan.
Laoag councilor Atty. Franklin Respicio, who was then the temporary presiding officer, referred the request to the committee on games and amusement for further study.
Laoag councilor Edison Bonoan, in his individual report as vice chairman of the committee on games and amusement, said that he and committee chairperson councilor Handy agreed to defer the requests for the meantime until the higher sanggunian approved the franchise ordinance.