Only Sen. Luis P. Crisostimo, Ind.-Saipan, voted against House Local Bill 17-21 which was supported by 16 other lawmakers.
Absent were Speaker Froilan C. Tenorio, Covenant-Saipan, Sen. Ralph DLG Torres, R-Saipan, Rep. Sylvestre I. Iguel, Covenant-Saipan, and Rep. Edmund S. Villagomez, Covenant-Saipan.
The delegation has 21 members: three senators and 18 representatives.
Introduced by Rep. Ray N. Yumul, R-Saipan, the bill will amend the Cockfighting Act of 1994 by extending the duration of the license to five years, beginning July 1 of the first year and ending on June 30 of the fifth year.
Before the delegation passed the bill, Yumul offered an amendment imposing a $600 fine on illegal cockfights and restricting cockfighting activities to people who are at least 18 years old or older.
Yumul’s amendment likewise increased the minimum bid from $10,000 to $20,000 per year.
House Minority Leader Diego T. Benavente, R-Saipan, said $20,000 is a very reasonable amount for an interested cockpit operator.
But Crisostimo said it is important to listen first to the people who know the cockfighting business before imposing higher fees.
Rep. Raymond D. Palacios, Covenant-Saipan, said the proposed minimum bid is too high and will discourage cockfight investors.
