Negros Occ imposes ordinance to ban machine cockfight bets

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY — The provincial government of Negros Occidental has enacted an ordinance aimed at curbing the growing practice of machine-based cockfight betting in the province.

Provincial Board Member Andrew Montelibano, chair of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Games and author of the ordinance, told Daily Guardian on Wednesday that the measure ensures only traditional cockfighting and betting are permitted in Negros Occidental.

Montelibano said he has personal knowledge that cockfight machine betting is becoming widespread and is being developed into a business enterprise by some individuals.

Dubbed Ordinance No. 011, Series of 2025, the measure mandates strict implementation of Presidential Decree 449, or the Cockfighting Law of 1974.

Montelibano emphasized that the ordinance reinforces the enforcement of PD 449.

The ordinance defines sabong as a live cockfighting match between two gamecocks pitted against each other and watched onsite by spectators inside a licensed cockpit arena.

Sabong is a long-standing Filipino tradition usually held on Sundays, local holidays, and fiestas as a form of entertainment and pastime, often accompanied by traditional betting.

According to the ordinance, cockpit owners, operators, gamefowl breeders and patrons of the sport developed E-sabong — a system of on- and off-cockpit kiosk or machine betting — to make sabong more accessible and profitable, especially during the pandemic when mass gatherings were restricted.

It noted that a nationwide suspension of E-sabong operations was implemented on May 3, 2022.

This included the suspension of online, remote, or off-cockpit wagering on live cockfighting matches or events broadcasted or streamed live — regardless of the location of the betting platform, including kiosks inside or near licensed arenas.

The ordinance also noted that despite the nationwide ban, offshoot practices have emerged — such as in-cockpit kiosk or machine betting.

In such systems, the ordinance said, players are not informed of the odds, which can change even after a bet is placed or midgame, leaving both the chance and value of winnings uncertain.

While traditional sabong remains legal, the ordinance states there is a need to protect bettors from rigged or unreliable betting methods that can lead to financial and emotional distress.

“With this ordinance, it is prohibited and declared illegal to conduct non-traditional sabong and non-traditional forms of betting in the province of Negros Occidental,” Montelibano said.

He stressed that local government units must ensure that only traditional methods are used when issuing permits for sabong events.

He added that PD 449 considers cockfighting a part of Filipino customs and traditions, and it should not be exploited for commercial gain or uncontrolled gambling.

Instead, it should be treated as a vehicle to preserve Filipino heritage and enhance national identity.

Montelibano said the ordinance, which was unanimously supported by the provincial board and approved by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, will take effect later this month following its required publication.

Cockfighting and gamefowl breeding remain the second-largest industry in Negros Occidental.