Ombudsman fines ex-Cebu City acting mayor over cockfighting events
MANILA — The Office of the Ombudsman has fined former Cebu City acting mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia over unauthorized cockfighting events at a casino in Cebu City.
In a statement on Thursday, the Ombudsman said it found Garcia liable for conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service.
The anti-graft body ordered a six-month suspension without pay of Garcia. However, this cannot be enforced as he is not an incumbent official. Hence, the penalty will be converted into a fine worth six months’ basic salary, which may be slashed from his retirement benefits, accrued leave credits, or other pending receivables.
“Respondent Garcia’s act of not interposing any objection cannot be excused as a mere oversight. The legal requirements governing cockfighting are explicit and leave no room for discretion as to venue. By allowing the activities to proceed without objection despite their patent illegality, respondent Garcia exhibited inexcusable neglect of duty,” stated the Ombudsman, citing its decision.
The anti-graft body’s decision stemmed from a complaint filed by a certain Kristian Hassamal, who questioned the cockfighting derbies at a hotel and casino on May 23 to 24, Aug. 27 to 29, and Oct. 11 to 18 in 2024.
The Ombudsman said the activities violated Presidential Decree No. 449 or the Cockfighting Law of 1974, which limits “cockfighting to authorized venues and licensed cockpits, and limits special cockfighting privileges to specified occasions and durations.”
The decree also states that cockfighting activities may only be stretched “for only one time, for a period not exceeding three days, within a year to a province, city, or municipality.”
“As a public official, respondent Garcia was duty-bound to ensure that all activities conducted within the jurisdiction strictly complied with existing laws and regulations,” the Ombudsman said.
The administrative complaint against Garcia’s co-respondent, former Cebu City Police Director Antonietto Canete, was referred to the Ombudsman-Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices for proper action.