City official resigns after allowing derby despite COVID-19 measures

THE DIVISION Chief of the Business Permit and Licensing Division of the Davao City government tendered resignation effective April 4, 2020 for failing to act on preventing the cockfight derby at Matina Gallera on March 7, 10 and 12, 2020. 

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said the resignation from government service serves as a reminder for all officials of the city government to always put forward the general welfare of the city.

“I hope that this shall be a lesson that no one will ever forget, especially for those who work to serve Davao City and the Dabawenyos,” she said.

Based on the inquiry, the cockfight derby happened on March 7, 10 and 12, 2020 at the New Matina Gallera with the facts uncovered as follows:

On February 4, 2020, the Sangguniang Panglungsod issued a resolution approving the request for the conduct of a derby.

On March 3, 2020, the Davao City Business Permit and Licensing Division issued the permit after all the required documents were duly submitted and complied with.

On March 8, 2020, the Guidelines No. 3 on COVID-19 was issued.  It did not prohibit the conduct of private events, however, it clearly set the direction of postponing such events.

On March 12, 2020, the Davao City Police Office was ordered to shut down the Matina Gallera upon learning about the ongoing derby.

Duterte-Carpio said that based on the presented documents and the timeline covering the community quarantine implemented because of the COVID-19, no law was violated.

She said the cockfight derby was also a private activity and not a part of the Araw ng Dabaw celebration.

However, Duterte-Carpio stressed that there was no judgement call initiated by the Business Permit and Licensing Division on preventing the cockfight derby using one’s own opinion and perception on what could happen given the previous decisions of the city government to stop the public gatherings due to the threat of the Corona Virus Disease-19 infection. 

It can be recalled that as early as February, the City Government cancelled the Araw ng Dabaw activities due to the threat to health of the then New Corona Virus Infection.  By Joey Dalumpines)