Board chairman John M. Borja said they met with the management of the Saipan Cockfight Arena on Thursday to hear the complaint.
The complainant was informed about the hearing but did not send a representative.
Borja said after viewing video footage of the cockfight, they decided to affirm the referee’s judgment
He did not name the complainant, but said the separate protest of Henry Gallera against Enrico Tupil was withdrawn by the complainant.
Gener San Gabriel, who represented Gallera, said they decided to withdraw their complaint, which was filed last July, because they could no longer wait for the board’s decision.
“The bet money has been stalled and nothing happened to our protest,” he said.
On Sunday, Maryann D. Calvo, Saipan Cockfight Arena operator, gave back the bet money after the complainants withdrew their protest.
The protest involved $760, San Gabriel said.
The United Cockers and Breeders Federation, Saipan said these complaints stemmed from the management’s hiring of an incompetent referee and his unfair sentencing and matching of the cocks.
But Borja said the referee hired by the management is qualified.
The referee, he added, is certified and obtained an authorization from the office of the Saipan’s mayor through the board.
“There’s no problem with the referee,” he said.
