JILIEVO Sabungan: Who Owns a Cockpit Arena, How Many, and Where
A sabungan, or cockpit arena, stands in a country where online e-sabong has been suspended nationwide since 3 May 2022.
Key facts and contents
- JILIEVO Logro Meaning
- Logro is the pit's word for the odds the bet taker calls between bettors, used in a country where online e-sabong has been suspended since 2022.
- JILIEVO Tupada Meaning
- Tupada is a cockfighting term that PD 449 lists in its definition, in a country where online e-sabong has been suspended nationwide since 3 May 2022.
- JILIEVO EO 9 E-Sabong Order
- Nationwide e-sabong operations were suspended on 3 May 2022, and Executive Order No. 9 of 28 December 2022 directs that the suspension continue.
A sabungan is the licensed cockpit arena where PD 449 lets a cockfight happen, and it is a different thing from the e-sabong that has been suspended nationwide since 3 May 2022. Executive Order No. 9, signed by President Marcos on 28 December 2022, directed that the suspension continue and left traditional licensed cockfights alone. The full text of the Cockfighting Law of 1974 section by section is the parent page, and this one stays on the arena itself.
What a cockpit arena is under PD 449
Section 2 of the decree says it governs the establishment, operation, maintenance and ownership of cockpits. Section 5(d) then allows cockfighting only in licensed cockpits, with named exceptions for fairs and special occasions. The decree does not describe a building, only who may own it, how many may exist, where they may stand and who licenses them.
| Question | Section | What the decree says |
|---|---|---|
| Who may own one | 5(a) | Only Filipino citizens not otherwise inhibited by existing laws |
| How many per town | 5(b) | One per city or municipality; two where population is over one hundred thousand |
| Where it may stand | 5(c) | Appropriate zoning areas; away from residential and commercial areas and public buildings |
| Who licenses it | 6 | City and municipal mayors, subject to the approval of the Chief of Constabulary |
Sabungan: the word and the licensed place
Sabungan is the word most Filipinos use for the cockpit, and the keyword you may have searched. In law it is simply a licensed cockpit, and the decree’s own title for the place is “cockpit”. The same decree names the people who work inside it: the gaffer (taga tari), the referee (sentenciador) and the bet taker or promoter.
| Word you hear | Term in the decree | Licence |
|---|---|---|
| Sabungan | Cockpit | Issued by the city or municipal mayor (Section 6) |
| Taga tari | Gaffer | Yearly, on the birthmonth (Section 7) |
| Sentenciador | Referee | Yearly, on the birthmonth (Section 7) |
| Bet taker | Bet taker or promoter | Yearly, on the birthmonth (Section 7) |
Those officials need their own yearly licences under Section 7. The logro meaning and the called odds in the pit explains the bet taker’s vocabulary, and the tupada meaning for fights outside licensed cockpits covers what the decree says when no licensed cockpit is involved.
Ownership and how many a town may have
Ownership is limited to Filipino citizens, and cooperative capitalization is encouraged. The policy section explains why: the decree wants cockpits run to preserve Philippine customs and traditions, and to prevent excessive and unreasonable business operation and profit considerations in their management.
- A city or municipality with a population of one hundred thousand or fewer: one cockpit.
- A city or municipality with a population of over one hundred thousand: up to two cockpits.
- Any owner, manager or operator who breaks the decree faces Section 8, which sets prision correccional in its maximum period and a fine of two thousand pesos.
Where a cockpit arena may stand
Section 5(c) works in four steps:
- The cockpit is constructed and operated within the appropriate areas prescribed in the zoning law or ordinance.
- If a place has none, local executives must see that no cockpit goes up within or near existing residential or commercial areas, hospitals, school buildings, churches or other public buildings.
- Existing cockpits that did not conform were given three years from the decree’s date of effectivity to comply.
- Building permits are approved or issued by the city or provincial engineer.
The engineer applies the respective building codes, ordinances and engineering practice. To check what applies in a particular town, read that town’s zoning ordinance and ask its mayor’s office about the cockpit licence.
FAQ
What is a sabungan under Philippine law?
Sabungan is the everyday Filipino word for a cockpit, the licensed place where cockfights are held. PD 449 uses the word cockpit and governs its establishment, operation, maintenance and ownership. The decree allows cockfighting only in licensed cockpits on the days it lists.
Who may own a cockpit arena in the Philippines?
Section 5(a) of PD 449 says only Filipino citizens not otherwise inhibited by existing laws may own, manage and operate cockpits. It also says cooperative capitalization is encouraged.
How many cockpit arenas can one city or municipality have?
Section 5(b) allows one cockpit in each city or municipality. A city or municipality with a population of over one hundred thousand may have two.
Where may a cockpit arena be built?
Section 5(c) says within the areas a zoning law or ordinance prescribes. Without one, local executives must keep cockpits away from residential or commercial areas, hospitals, school buildings, churches and other public buildings.