Illegal cockfights spring up

The recent holiday season was a lucrative time for illegal cockfighters on Saipan, with many incidents being reported to the Office of the Mayor of Saipan.

According to Mayor Juan B. Tudela, his office received several reports of illegal cockfighting activities that, in one instance, even involved a police officer.

On Dec. 25, a former congressman was seen involved in such an activity in the San Vicente area, with more than 50 participants and about 20 cars parked within the area, Tudela said.

Early in the afternoon of Dec. 27, a police detective was seen conducting such illegal activity behind the China House Restaurant on Beach Road in south Garapan, with about 30 participants, he said.

Then on Dec. 28, another illegal cockfighting activity was conducted in the Kagman area.

Tudela said other areas where the illegal gambling was conducted were in Chalan Kiya’s Airport Road and in Dandan, both held between 8pm and 11pm.

The mayor said video footages of all these illegal activities were collected and will be used as evidence once a formal complaint is filed against the violators.

Tudela recalled that a similar incident was reported to him in November, when a member of the Cockfight Board was allegedly seen within an area where the illegal activity was being held.

He said the alleged activity was immediately investigated and an understanding was amicably settled between the accused board member, the licensed cockfight operator, and the mayor.

The mayor said his office authorizes only one licensed operator each year, based on a public bidding process, in accordance with the provisions of the Saipan Cockfighting Act of 1994 and CNMI Code.

Saipan Cockfight, which is located on Middle Road in Gualo Rai, is the only one permitted to operate on Saipan.

The mayor said that illegal operators have minimal facility and are mobile.

“Their arenas are inadequate for public safety and pose health and safety hazards, especially when sales of food and drinks in these locations are conducted without the necessary permits from authorized government agencies,” Tudela noted.

Additionally, the mayor said, these illegal operators pay no taxes and take money away from individuals who otherwise would spend the money on licensed business.

Also, “illegal cockfight arenas are not insured, unlike a licensed cockpit establishment that is fully responsible for all its patrons should there be any untoward incidents arising during regular hours of operations,” Tudela said.

Tudela issued a warning yesterday against those involved in illegal cockfighting and a reminder for people not to attend such prohibited activities.

Tudela said he will seek the assistance of the Department of Public Safety and the Office of the Attorney General to strictly enforce all applicable laws and regulations related to cockfight operations on Saipan.

He said he would ask the Attorney General to prosecute all violators.

Violators may be fined $600 or more or imprisonment of not more than three months or both.