When it comes to sports, Filipinos cannot live without basketball and of course, cockfighting. Although the latter is more of gambling than sport, many people are also involved in breeding gamefowls as both recreation and business. Cockfighting in the Philippines is both legal and illegal depending on where the game is held and to what level.

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Lieutenant Christian Bolok, who headed up the San Jose municipal police station, was rushed to the provincial hospital and declared dead on arrival, local media reported. This is the first time in my 25 years as a policeman that I lost a man due to a fighting cock's spur. Cockfighting is popular in the Philippines , with spectators betting on the result of an often deadly fight between two roosters who are often adorned with bladed spurs in place of naturally bony protrusions on their legs, which are removed. But the events have been banned during the coronavirus pandemic in a bid to limit potentially infectious gatherings, with reports of four attendees of a fight testing positive for Covid in August. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies.
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A Philippine police officer has been killed by a rooster during a raid on an illegal cockfight in the province of Northern Samar. Lieutenant Christine Bolok was struck by the rooster's gaff - a razor-sharp steel blade which is typically attached to the leg of fighting roosters. The blade cut his left thigh, slicing his femoral artery. He was rushed to hospital and declared dead on arrival. Cockfighting has been banned during the virus outbreak. Before the pandemic, it was allowed only in licensed cockpits on Sundays and legal holidays, as well as during local fiestas lasting a maximum of three days, according to the government news wire The Philippine News Agency PNA. Provincial police chief Colonel Arnel Apud told news agency AFP that the accident was "unfortunate", calling it "a piece of bad luck that I cannot explain". This is the first time in my 25 years as a policeman that I lost a man due to a fighting cock's spur. The police chief also sent his "deepest sympathy" to the victim's family, said PNA.
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first. A town police chief was killed by a rooster armed with an ankle blade on Monday after officers broke up an illegal cockfighting ring in the Philippines. San Jose Police Chief Lt.