By Jennifer P. Rendon
Eighteen cockfight enthusiasts are now behind bars after they were caught in an illegal cockfight afternoon of May 31, 2020 in Molo, Iloilo City.
Members of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) Intelligence Section and Molo Police Station arrested the suspect during a pauwak at 1:30 p.m. of Sunday at Zone 2, Barangay Boulevard.
The suspects were identified as John Rey Bataquin, Sr., Elfren Pahila, Ronald Layson, Leo Bersona, Robert Coquingan, Jessie Miranda, Marlon Solleza, Noel Pedrosa, Angelito Sumagaysay, Arjie Felipe, Michael Faunillo, Arnold Infante, Michael Malan, Ian Bargamento, Jericho Dequilla, John Mark Lagura, Dandy Lago, and Cornelio Viva, Jr.
Recovered from the scene were P4,460 cash, an improvised fighting ring, and 14 heads of roosters.
The suspects will be charged for violation of Presidential Decree 449 (Cockfighting Law of 1974) and Executive Order No. 48, which prohibits mass gathering like the conduct of cockfighting.
It was gathered that at least three police operations against illegal cockfight were also conducted in Negros Occidental on Sunday.
Five persons were arrested at 9:50 a.m. at Sitio Labangan, Barangay Cabahug, Cadiz City.
Three persons were also arrested for an illegal cockfight at 1 p.m. at Hacienda Bagacay, Barangay Bagtic, Silay City.
Another police operation led to the arrest of nine persons for violating PD 449 at Hacienda Napongolan, Barangay Tortosa, Manapla.
The PNP has ordered its field units to do a massive crackdown on illegal activities violating physical distancing and gathering of persons such as illegal cockfight, card games, mah-jong, and drinking sessions in public places.
