Matag-ob, Leyte fiesta cockfighting under scrutiny; permits sought

MANDAUE CITY, Cebu — The former mayor of Matag-ob, Leyte, is seeking documents to verify the legality of a cockfight event held in Barangay Bonoy last month, which was reportedly sanctioned by municipal officials.

In a letter dated June 24, 2026, former Mayor Michael Torrevillas asked the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) to provide copies of the permits and other documents issued to the organizers of the cockfighting event.

Specifically, he requested copies of the SB resolution authorizing the cockfight outside a designated cockpit, the organizers’ request letter or application, the endorsement or transmittal from the Office of the Mayor, the minutes of the SB session in which the matter was discussed, and any permits or clearances issued by the Leyte Police Provincial Office or other government agencies authorizing the fiesta cockfight.

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Torrevillas, however, did not specify why he was requesting the documents.

The three-day cockfighting event, held from June 11 to 14, 2026, on a vacant lot in Barangay Bonoy, was among the activities for this year’s fiesta celebration in Matag-ob.

Presidential Decree No. 449, or the Cockfighting Law of 1974, allows cockfights to be held only in licensed cockpits on Sundays, legal holidays, and during local fiestas for a maximum of three days.

The decree also authorizes local government units to issue licenses for and regulate cockpits within their respective jurisdictions.

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Access to information

Municipal Administrator Atty. Johanna Cass-Licup acknowledged Torrevilla’s request for access to information in a letter reply dated June 26.

“Considering the number and nature of the documents requested, some of which may be under the custody of different offices, the processing of your request will require collation and verification of the requested records,” she said.

Last July 2, Torrevillas wrote a separate letter to Matag-ob Mayor Bernardino “Bernie” Tacoy through Atty. Licup to reiterate his earlier request.

The release of the documents would erase suspicions that the fiesta cockfight lacked government permits.

Leyte 4th District Rep. Richard Gomez, a known critic of Tacoy, also tagged the Office of the Ombudsman as he shared a Facebook post by a local radio station discussing the questioned cockfighting activity in Matag-ob.

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Cockfighting as cultural presentation

In a speech delivered after the municipal flag-raising ceremony on June 22, Tacoy defended the “gamayng kalingawan” (small fun) they organized as part of the town’s “cultural presentation” for its fiesta celebration, saying it was held in response to a request from a balikbayan group, which he did not name.

“According to the law, we are allowed to conduct [a three-day] cockfighting activity, provided we have to secure some documents,” he said.

Tacoy, who has openly acknowledged his past involvement in the illegal numbers game swertres, said the organizers complied with all the required documents and certifications, including one issued by the Leyte Police Provincial Office.

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He described the fiesta cockfighting event as a “successful activity” and admitted that he briefly visited the venue “to say hi and hello.”

Tacoy also lamented the criticisms labeling their town as a promoter of illegal gambling. He reiterated his commitment to combating all forms of illegal gambling, including illegal small town lottery (STL) operations in the municipality.

Before concluding his message, he officially announced the launch of a “Zero STL” campaign in Matag-ob.

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