Cockfighting enthusiasts or sabungeros—especially those who want to preserve the centuries-old culture and tradition—on Wednesday raised concerns over a bill seeking to put an end to animal cruelty.

They are referring to Senate Bill No. 2975, or the Revised Animal Welfare Act, sponsored by Senator Grace Poe.

Joey Sy, who has bred gamefowls for more than 30 years, said that banning cockfighting in the Philippines would not only kill a tradition dating back to pre-colonial times but also harm the livelihood of thousands of Filipinos who rely on it.

"It should be specified in the proposed bill that only dog fighting, horse fighting and carabao fighting shall be prohibited," said Sy, who also hosts Bakbakan Na—a TV show featuring gamefowl breeders and cockfighters from around the world.

"It's dangerous if generalized as animal fights because chickens can be included in its interpretation. We must call the attention of our lawmakers on the said issue because we will all be adversely affected by this bill of Senator Poe," he added.

For his part, Sy’s co-host Eddie Boy Ochoa said one way to fight this legislation is to declare sabong as part of Filipino heritage.

"Our lawmakers cannot touch it when a tradition is declared as national heritage," Ochoa said.

"If we remain silent and won't make a move to oppose the proposed bill, we will be suffering the same fate with the United States where cockfighting is totally banned," he added.

Another gamefowl aficionado, lawyer Arturo De Castro, believes the proposed bill does not provide exemptions for cockfighting.

"Cockfight is being targeted though not mentioned. There are no dog or bullfights here. All animal fights are prohibited by the law," De Castro, a multititled cocker and gamefowl breeder, told this reporter in an interview via Facebook Messenger.

De Castro also said it would be a "kiss of death" for lawmakers who support this bill.

"Its advocates will not win in the next election because many people will get angry with them if they lost their livelihood," De Castro said.

"Cultural heritage of sabong as a national sports is a right that cannot be taken from us, depriving us the right to the pursuit of happiness, joy and delight," he added.

On 2 June, the Senate unanimously voted to approve the proposed Revised Animal Welfare Act on third reading.

Senate Bill No. 2975—which establishes a system of supervision and regulation over keeping, handling, transporting, breeding, training, and treating animals, among others—is seen to put an end to the spate of animal cruelty in the country.

Just recently, the House of Representatives also approved on third and final reading House Bill 11254, which prohibits online sabong operations.