Philippines Ombudsman suspends ex-Cebu mayor Garcia over casino cockfighting
The Office of the Ombudsman ordered a six-month suspension without pay of former Cebu City acting mayor Raymond Alvin Neri Garcia for allowing unauthorized cockfighting derbies at a hotel and casino in Cebu City in 2024. Because Garcia has left public office, the penalty converts to a fine equal to six months' basic salary. Local reports identify the venue as NUSTAR Resort and Casino.
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Overview
- On October 29, 2026 the Office of the Ombudsman published a press release saying Ombudsman Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla approved a 15-page decision suspending former Cebu City acting mayor Raymond Alvin Neri Garcia for six months without pay.
- Garcia was found administratively liable for conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service over unauthorized cockfighting derbies held at a hotel and casino in Cebu City on May 23–24, August 27–29 and October 11–18, 2024. The complaint was filed by Kristian I. Hassamal.
- The Ombudsman said the events violated Presidential Decree No. 449 (the Cockfighting Law of 1974), which confines cockfighting to licensed cockpits and limits special privileges. If the suspension cannot be served because Garcia has left office, it converts to a fine equal to six months' basic salary, deductible from retirement benefits or other receivables.
- Local English coverage the same day identified the venue as NUSTAR Resort and Casino. A related complaint against former Cebu City Police Director Antonietto Ybañez Cañete was referred to the Ombudsman's Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices unit.
What the Ombudsman decided
In its October 29 press release, the Ombudsman quoted the decision as saying Garcia's failure to object "cannot be excused as a mere oversight" and that the legal requirements on venue "leave no room for discretion."
The release said the activities took place inside a resort and casino that is "patently neither a licensed cockpit nor a playground or park as contemplated under PD No. 449," and that the choice of venue alone placed the events outside what the law allows. Under PD 449, special cockfighting privileges may be "extended for only one time, for a period not exceeding three days, within a year to a province, city, or municipality."
The Ombudsman also stated that Garcia was "duty-bound to ensure that all activities conducted within the jurisdiction strictly complied with existing laws and regulations."
Manila Times, Philstar The Freeman and SunStar Cebu reported on October 29 that the derbies were held at NUSTAR Resort and Casino. The Freeman said the decision is dated January 6, 2026 and was endorsed to Cebu City's human-resources office on September 21, 2026, and that Garcia has filed a motion for reconsideration. Those procedural details are not in the Ombudsman press release.
Related coverage: Four years after the ban, Philippine police are still calling to stop e-sabong.
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Teresa Domingo is an editor at AskSpinner News, turning fresh iGaming insights into engaging, accessible content. Teresa’s writing connects the latest developments with the stories behind them, aiming to give busy industry readers both a timely update and a new idea worth following.
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