Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 318)
Commonwealth Act Numbered six hundred and one, entitled An Act to regulate the establishment, maintenance and operation of places of amusement in chartered cities and municipal districts.
Cockfighting shall take place only in licensed cockpits and only upon legal holidays other than Rizal Day, and for a period not exceeding three days during the celebration of the town fiesta as fixed by the Municipal Council.
Cockpits shall not be constructed or operate within a radius of one thousand lineal meters from city hall or municipal building, provincial building, public plaza, public school, church, hospital, athletic stadium, public park, or any institution of learning or charity.
The owner or concessionaire must apply for a permit from the city or provincial treasurer, provide certificates from the City or District Engineer on building suitability, and from the City or District Health Officer on sanitary condition, and pay the proper fee or tax for at least one quarter.
A municipal license tax of not less than two hundred pesos annually or fifty pesos quarterly is required, plus twenty-five centavos for every cockfight held.
Any person who believes a cockpit is operating in an unauthorized place may file a protest with the Secretary of the Interior.
No, no card game or games of chance of any kind shall be permitted in the premises of a cockpit.
No person under the age of eighteen years shall be allowed within the premises of any cockpit.
No intoxicating liquor shall be sold in the cockpit premises or within one hundred lineal meters, and no firearms or deadly weapons except by peace officers on official duty are permitted within the premises.
Violation of these rules may lead to revocation of the permit and forfeiture of the license by the Secretary of the Interior.
The action may be appealed to the Secretary of the Interior, whose decision shall be final.
They shall be given one year to close, transfer, or comply with the provisions, but may continue operation with special authorization of the Secretary of the Interior and approval of the President.