Calls mount for DPWH probe over P200-M cockpit purchase

By Manuel T. Ugalde

LEGAZPI CITY --- A high-ranking official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is facing calls for an investigation following reports of a P200-million acquisition of a popular cockpit arena in this city.

The property in question, known as Galleria de Legazpi, is a well-known venue for national cockfighting derbies. It is located in Barangay Rawis, just 200 meters from the Bicol Regional Center and near prominent institutions including the University of Santo Tomas – Legazpi and Mariners Polytechnic Colleges.

Sources, including a former city councilor who requested anonymity, allege that the buyer is a former district engineer in Albay who was promoted and reassigned outside the region. The official is said to be a regular figure at the arena prior to the transaction, often seen attending derbies with staff members.

While official records of the reported sale have yet to be made public, multiple sources within the engineering and cockfighting communities in Legazpi confirmed that the cockpit changed ownership as early as August. One DPWH engineer, who also declined to be identified, confirmed the transaction but said he was not privy to the financial details.

The cockpit, which sits on a hectare of land stretching from the main road to the shoreline, has long been a subject of noise complaints from nearby residents. It was originally built in the early 1990s, reportedly by a prominent contractor in partnership with a regional DPWH official—both known enthusiasts of the sport.

The potential involvement of a public official in such a substantial private investment has raised questions, particularly in light of past corruption allegations involving the Bicol regional office of the DPWH. The office was previously cited by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission during the Duterte administration as among the most corruption-prone in the country.

Calls for a formal investigation are mounting, with local observers urging transparency from the agency to clarify the financial sources and possible conflicts of interest surrounding the reported P200-million deal.

No official statement has yet been released by the DPWH or the concerned official as of press time.