PPD 449 Cockfighting Law of 1974

Cockfighting Law of 1974
Presidential Decree No. 449

President of the Philippines
17 May 1974
Cockfighting Law of 1974
WHEREAS, cockfighting has been and still is a popular, traditional and customary form of
recreation and entertainment among Filipinos during legal holidays, local fiestas,
agricultural, commercial and industrial fairs, carnivals or expositions;
WHEREAS, by reason of the aforestated meaning and connotation of cockfighting in

relation to Filipino customs and traditions, it should neither be exploited as an object of
commercialism or business enterprise, nor made a tool of uncontrolled gambling, but
more as a vehicle for the preservation and perpetuation of native Filipino heritage and
thereby enhance our national identity.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the

powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby decree and order to be part of the
laws of the land, the following:
SECTION 1. Title. This Decree shall be known as the “Cockfighting Law of 1974”.
SECTION 2. Scope. This law shall govern the establishment, operation, maintenance
and ownership of cockpits.
SECTION 3. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared a policy of the government to

insure within the framework of the New Society maximum development and promotion
of wholesome recreation and amusement to bring about the following goals:
(a) To effectively control and regulate cockfighting towards its establishment as a

national recreation, relaxation and source of entertainment;
(b) To provide additional revenue for our tourism program; and
(c) To remove and prevent excessive and unreasonable business operation and
profit considerations in the management of cockpits and, instead preserve Philippine
customs and traditions and thereby enhance our national identity.
SECTION 4. Definition of Terms. As used in this law, the following terms shall be
understood, applied and construed as follows:
(a) Cockfighting. shall embrace and mean the commonly known game or term
“cockfighting derby, pintakasi or tupada”, or its equivalent terms in different Philippine
localities.
(b) Zoning Law or Ordinance. Either both national or local city or municipal legislation
which logically arranges, prescribes, defines and apportions a given political
subdivision into specific land uses as present and future projection of needs warrant.
(c) Bet Taker or Promoter. A person who calls and takes care of bets from owners of
both gamecocks and those of other bettors before he orders commencement of the
cockfight and thereafter distributes won bets to the winners after deducting a certain
commission.
(d) Gaffer (Taga Tari). A person knowledgeable in the art of arming fighting cocks with
gaff or gaffs on either or both legs.
(e) Referee (Sentenciador). A person who watches and oversees the proper gaffing of
fighting cocks, determines the physical condition of fighting cocks while cockfighting is
in progress, the injuries sustained by the cocks and their capability to continue fighting
and decides and make known his decision by work or gestures and result of the
cockfight by announcing the winner or declaring a tie or no contest game.
(f) Bettor. A person who participates in cockfights and with the use of money or other
things of value, bets with other bettors or through the bet taker or promoter and wins
or loses his bet depending upon the result of the cockfight as announced by the
Referee or Sentenciador. He may be the owner of fighting cock.
SECTION 5. Cockpits and Cockfighting: In General.

(a) Ownership, Operation and Management of Cockpits. Only Filipino citizens not
otherwise inhibited by existing laws shall be allowed to own, manage and operate
cockpits. Cooperative capitalization is encouraged.
(b) Establishment of Cockpits. Only one cockpit shall be allowed in each city or
municipality, except that in cities or municipalities with a population of over one
hundred thousand, two cockpits may be established, maintained and operated.
(c) Cockpits Site and Construction. Cockpits shall be constructed and operated within
the appropriate areas as prescribed in Zoning Law or Ordinance. In the absence of
such law or ordinance, the local executives shall see to it that no cockpits are
constructed within or near existing residential or commercial areas, hospitals, school
buildings, churches or other public buildings. Owners, lessees, or operators of cockpits
which are now in existence and do not conform to this requirement are given three
years from the date of effectivity of this Decree to comply herewith. Approval or
issuance of building permits for the construction of cockpits shall be made by the city
or provincial engineer in accordance with their respective building codes, ordinances
or engineering laws and practices.
(d) Holding of Cockfights. Except as provided in this Decree, cockfighting shall be

allowed only in licensed cockpits during Sundays and legal holidays and during local
fiestas for not more than three days. It may also be held during provincial, city or
municipal, agricultural, commercial or industrial fair, carnival or exposition for a similar
period of three days upon resolution of the province, city or municipality where such
fair, carnival or exposition is to be held, subject to the approval of the Chief of
Constabulary or his authorized representative: Provided, that, no cockfighting on the
occasion of such fair, carnival or exposition shall be allowed within the month of a local
fiesta or for more than two occasions a year in the same city or
municipality: Provided, further, that no cockfighting shall be held on December 30 (Rizal
Day), June 12 (Philippine Independence Day), November 30 (National Heroes Day), Holy
Thursday, Good Friday, Election or Referendum Day and during Registration Days for
such election or referendum.
(e) Cockfighting for Entertainment of Tourists or for Charitable Purposes. Subject to the
preceding subsection hereof, the Chief Constabulary or his authorized representative
may also allow the holding of cockfighting for the entertainment of foreign dignitaries
or for tourists, or for returning Filipinos, commonly known as “Balikbayan”, or for the
support of national fund-raising campaigns for charitable purposes as may be
authorized by the Office of the President, upon resolution of a provincial board, city or
municipal council, in licensed cockpits or in playgrounds or parks: Provided, that this
privilege shall be extended for only one time, for a period not exceeding three days,
within a year to a province, city, or municipality.
(f) Other games during cockfights prescribed. No gambling of any kind shall be
permitted on the premises of the cockpit or place of cockfighting during cockfights.
The owner, manager or lessee off such cockpit and the violators of this injunction shall
be criminally liable under Section 8 hereof.
SECTION 6. Licensing of Cockpits. City and municipal mayors are authorized to issue
licenses for the operation and maintenance of cockpits subject to the approval of the
Chief of Constabulary or his authorized representatives. For this purpose, ordinances
may be promulgated for the imposition and collection of taxes and fees not exceeding
the rates fixed under Section 13, paragraphs (a) and (b); and 19; paragraph (g) 16 of
Presidential Decree No. 231, dated June 28, 1973, otherwise known as the Local Tax
Code, as amended.
SECTION 7. Cockfighting Officials. Gaffers, referees or bet takers or promoters shall not
act as such in any cockfight herein authorized, without first securing a license renewable
every year on their birth month from the city or municipality where such cockfighting is
held. Cities and municipalities may charge a tax of not more than twenty pesos. Only
licensed gaffers, referees, bet takers or promoters shall officiate in all kinds of
cockfighting authorized in this Decree.
SECTION 8. Penal Provisions. Any violation of the provisions of this Decree and of the
rules and regulations promulgated by the Chief of Constabulary pursuant thereto shall
be punished as follows:
a. By prision correccional in its maximum period and a fine of two thousand pesos,
with subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency, when the offender is the financier,
owner, manger or operator of a cockpit, or the gaffer, referee or bet taker in cockfights;
or the offender is guilty of allowing, promoting or participating in any other kind of
gambling in the premises of cockpits during cockfights.
b. By prision correccional or a fine of not less than six hundred pesos nor more than
two thousand pesos or both, such imprisonment and fine at the discretion of the court,
with subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency, in case of any other offender.
SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. The provisions of Section 2285 and 2286 of the Revised
Penal Code, Republic Act No. 946, all laws, decrees, rules and regulations, or orders which
are inconsistent with this Decree are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SECTION 10. Date of Effectivity. This Decree shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
following the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette.
Approved: May 17, 1974.

PPD 449 Cockfighting Law of 1974

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

PPD 449 Cockfighting Law of 1974

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

PPD 449 Cockfighting Law of 1974

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Cockfighting Law of 1974

Presidential Decree No. 449

Cockfighting Law of 1974

WHEREAS, by reason of the aforestated meaning and connotation of cockfighting in

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the

SECTION 3. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared a policy of the government to

(a) To effectively control and regulate cockfighting towards its establishment as a

SECTION 5. Cockpits and Cockfighting: In General.

(d) Holding of Cockfights. Except as provided in this Decree, cockfighting shall be

Approved: May 17, 1974.

You might also like