Governor Daniel Fernando said on Friday that cockpit operations are still prohibited in Bulacan since the province is still under the Modified Enhance Community Quarantine (MECQ).
"Pinagkatiwalaan ako ng ating mga kalalawigan upang ipatupad ang batas para sa kaligtasan ng lahat at hindi para sa kapritso ng iilan. Huwag na ninyong pag-alabin ang iba nating kalalawigang mananabong. Batid ko na sa kabuuan ay hindi ito ang kanilang sentimiento madami ang pansamantalng nagtitiis huwag lamang lumabag sa batas (The Bulakenyos trusted me to enforce the law for the safety of all and not for the sake of the few. Don't agitate some of our cockfight aficionados because I know that in general this is not their sentiment, many are suffering to ensure that the law is not violated), Fernando said.
Fernando was responding to some social media posts of a group of cockfight aficionados expressing their disappointment over his strict law enforcement of the law during the pandemic.
Fernando stressed that the MECQ is extended in Bulacan, but a group of cockfight aficionados wants him to allow the opening of cockpit arenas.
Based on the IATF Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines, “traditional cockfighting and operation of cockpits ′′ are among the activities that are not allowed to operate under MECQ and General Community Quarantine (GCQ).
The Bulacan governor said he loves sports and the Filipino culture, adding he is also a cockfight gamer during his youth days and loves taking care of fighting cocks.
He, however, emphasized that the law must be enforced in line with the fight against the pandemic.
Fernando said hospitals in the province, including the Bulacan Infection Control Center (BICC) and Bulacan Medical Center (BMC), are still full and have a shortage of beds.
On Friday night, Oct. 15, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) recorded 1,403 COVID-19 active cases in the province. The figure is higher than the Oct. 13 tally of 895 and Oct. 14 record of 1,260.
The PHO said the province now has a total number of 81,152 COVID-19 cases, and 78,395 or 97% of these have already recovered.
Of the 1,403 active cases, 128 are admitted in the hospitals, 246 are at the Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facility (TTMF) while 1,029 are on home isolation.
Eight new deaths were reported, raising the number of COVID-19 fatalities to 1,354.