TACLOBAN CITY- At least five people were arrested for illegal cockfighting or “sabong” in separate police operations in Eastern Visayas towns Saturday (June 27).
In Can-avid, Eastern Samar, police arrested two individuals while one other person was at-large in Barangay Can-ilay at around 4:25 pm Saturday.
Confiscated from their possession and control were five fighting cocks with an estimated market value of P 4, 500 and bet money amounting to P250.
Can-avid Municipal Police Station led by Major Clark Chavarria and Eastern Samar Provincial Police Office-Provincial Intelligence Unity (ESPPO-PUI) under supervision of Major Herbert Joey Grata, chief of PUI, conducted the operation.
In Bobon, Northern Samar, two persons were also arrested at around 1:45 pm Saturday at Sitio Kagpangi, Barangay Acereda.
Operatives from Bobon Municipal Police Station led by Captain Ricardo Banjawan, chief of police, confiscated from the suspects bet money amounting to P2,548 and cockfighting paraphernalia with an estimated worth of P1, 260.
Meanwhile, police in Matalom, Leyte arrested one suspect while his companions eluded arrest at around 3:10 pm Saturday at Sitio Casilihan, Barangay San Juan.
Personnel from Matalom Municipal Police led by Lieutenant Arvin Presbitero confiscated from the suspect’s possession and control one fighting cock with estimated market value of P1,000.
Also recovered from the area were two fighting cocks and gaff with an estimated total market value of P2, 300.
The suspects will be facing charges for violation of Presidential Decree 449, or Illegal Cockfighting Law, as amended by Presidential Decree 1602, which prescribes stiffer penalties for illegal gambling.
(RONALD O. REYES)
