Question & AnswerQ&A (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 449)
The title of Presidential Decree No. 449 is the "Cockfighting Law of 1974."
It governs the establishment, operation, maintenance, and ownership of cockpits.
Only Filipino citizens not otherwise inhibited by existing laws are allowed to own, manage, and operate cockpits.
Only one cockpit shall be allowed in each city or municipality, except that cities or municipalities with a population of over one hundred thousand may have two cockpits.
Cockpits shall be constructed and operated within appropriate areas as prescribed in the Zoning Law or Ordinance or away from residential, commercial areas, hospitals, schools, churches, or other public buildings.
Cockfighting is allowed only in licensed cockpits during Sundays, legal holidays, local fiestas for not more than three days, and during provincial, city, or municipal fairs, carnivals, or expositions for a similar maximum period of three days.
Yes. Cockfighting is prohibited 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 elections or referendums.
Yes, subject to certain conditions, cockfighting may be held for the entertainment of foreign dignitaries, tourists, returning Filipinos (Balikbayan), or for national charitable fund-raising campaigns, only once per year for a period not exceeding three days.
No. The law prohibits any gambling other than cockfighting on cockpit premises during cockfights.
They must secure a license renewable every year on their birthmonth from the city or municipality where the cockfighting is held. Only licensed officials may officiate cockfights.
Violations are punishable by prision correccional in its maximum period and a fine of two thousand pesos for financiers, owners, managers, operators, and officials. Other offenders may be penalized with prision correccional or fines of six hundred pesos to two thousand pesos or both.
The law aims to control and regulate cockfighting as a national recreation, provide avenues for tourism, and prevent excessive commercialism and uncontrolled gambling associated with cockfighting.