PH22 Sabungero: Who Fills Each Role in a Cockpit
Online e-sabong has been suspended nationwide since 2022, but the sabungero lives on in the licensed cockpit: a sabungero is a cockfighting enthusiast, and the cockpit assigns the casador, kristo, sentensyador and mananari their own jobs.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| PH22 E-Sabong Suspension | Online e-sabong was suspended nationwide in 2022: a spoken order on 3 May 2022, then Executive Order No. 9 of 28 December 2022, which keeps all e-sabong operations suspended while licensed cockpit fights stay lawful. |
| PH22 Casador in Philippine Cockpits | Online e-sabong has been suspended nationwide since 2022, so the casador works only in licensed cockpits: the casador is the matchmaker who pairs fighting cocks, while the kristo calls the bets and the sentensyador rules on the fight. |
| PH22 Pintakasi in Sabong | Online e-sabong has been suspended nationwide since 2022, and the pintakasi is a live-cockpit format: a festive day of fights with on-the-spot matches, different from an ordinary Sunday card and from a registered derby. |
Nationwide, e-sabong has been under suspension since 2022, which leaves the sabungero where the tradition began: in the licensed cockpit. A spoken order on 3 May 2022, delivered in a taped broadcast, started the suspension. Executive Order No. 9 of 28 December 2022 formally kept e-sabong operations suspended.
To see the venue these people work in, read the cockpit arena rules under PD 449. This page covers the people. A sabungero is a follower of sabong, and the word covers far more than a person with a wager.
Sabungero meaning: the word and who it covers
The sabungero meaning is simple: a cockfighting enthusiast. Sabong is the Filipino word for cockfighting and the ending turns it into a person who follows it.
In practice the word stretches across several kinds of person.
- The breeder, who raises gamecocks and knows their lines.
- The handler, who conditions a bird before it enters the pit.
- The owner, who brings a bird to a licensed cockpit.
- The spectator, who goes for the fiesta, the crowd and the craft.
A page says a sabungero is only a gambler
The word describes a follower of cockfighting, which includes breeders and handlers who never place a wager. Read the roles table below to see who does what.
Who a sabungero is in the cockpit: the roles table
Once inside a licensed cockpit, the crowd splits into jobs with their own names. Three of them are defined in PD 449, Section 4, as the gaffer, the referee and the bet taker or promoter.
| Role | What the person does | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Casador | Matches the cocks for a fight | Not defined in PD 449 |
| Kristo | Calls and takes the bets | PD 449, Sec. 4 (bet taker) |
| Sentensyador | Oversees the fight and rules on it | PD 449, Sec. 4 (referee) |
| Mananari | Fits the tari, the blade, on the cock | PD 449, Sec. 4 (gaffer) |
The first row is the one people mix up most. The casador role in a cockpit is a matchmaker’s job, and it sits apart from the kristo, who deals with the crowd.
Words a sabungero uses at the pit
A few terms will help you follow any description of a cockfight. They are public vocabulary and carry no figures.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Meron and wala | The two sides of a fight, “there is” and “there is none” |
| Llamado and dehado | The favoured bird and the underdog |
| Tari | The blade tied to the cock’s leg |
| Derby | A tournament format with registered entries |
| Tupada | An informal fight outside a licensed cockpit |
Each term describes the pit itself, not a wager you can place from home.
The derby and the festive format are different things, and what a pintakasi is explains where one stops and the other starts.
What the law requires of each person
PD 449 licenses the people as well as the building. Section 7 says gaffers, referees and bet takers or promoters may not act in an authorised cockfight without first securing a licence, renewable every year.
| Person | Licence | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Gaffer | Required | Every year |
| Referee | Required | Every year |
| Bet taker or promoter | Required | Every year |
That rule is why a sabungero who works a fight can show a licence, and why a person without one is outside the law. Section 5(d) then limits the days: Sundays, legal holidays and local fiestas of not more than three days.
Online play is a separate matter entirely. The e-sabong suspension under Executive Order No. 9 shows why none of these roles exist on a screen today.
FAQ
What does sabungero mean?
Sabungero is the Filipino word for a cockfighting enthusiast: someone who raises, handles or follows fighting cocks. The word comes from sabong, which means cockfighting.
Is every sabungero a bettor?
No. A sabungero may be a breeder, a handler, an owner or a spectator. The roles in a cockpit are separate jobs, and several of them are licensed under PD 449.
Which cockpit roles does the law name?
Section 4 of PD 449 defines the gaffer, the referee and the bet taker or promoter, and Section 7 requires each of them to hold an annual licence before acting in an authorised cockfight.
Can a sabungero take part online?
No. E-sabong operations were suspended nationwide in 2022 and Executive Order No. 9 keeps them suspended. The sabungero's world today is the licensed cockpit.
Related guides
| Guide | What it covers |
|---|---|
| PH22 E-Sabong Suspension | e-sabong suspension |
| PH22 Casador in Philippine Cockpits | casador |
| PH22 Pintakasi in Sabong | pintakasi |