By Jennifer P. Rendon
Police charged 225 persons who were arrested in anti-illegal gambling raid afternoon of Feb. 20, 2020 at a cockpit in San Jose, Antique.
The 225 persons, including a minor, were charged for violation of Presidential Decree 449 (Cockfighting Law of 1974) as amended by PD 1602 Friday before the Antique Provincial Prosecutors Office.
Members of San Jose Police Station, Antique Provincial Mobile Force Company, and Antique Provincial Police Office-Intelligence Unit stormed the VCO Sports Development Center in Barangay 1, San Jose town following reports that it was holding a cockfight without security necessary permits.
248 persons who were initially arrested but Police Lieutenant Colonel Mark Anthony Darroca, San Jose police chief, explained that the number was trimmed down after some of those arrested were already old or are deemed, physically-challenged individuals.
“No one was able to flee because we were able to cordon the area,” he said.
Darroca said no arrest was immediately made as they asked the VCO management for a special permit for the holding of the cockpit on a Thursday but the latter failed.
Section 5 (d) of PD 449 on Holding of Cockfights law states that “except as provided in this Decree, cockfighting shall be allowed only in licensed cockpits during Sundays and legal holidays and during local fiestas for not more than three days. It may also be held during provincial, city or municipal, agricultural, commercial or industrial fair, carnival or exposition for a similar period of three days upon resolution of the province, city or municipality where such fair, carnival or exposition is to be held, subject to the approval of the Chief of Constabulary or his authorized representative.”
However, such will hold true if “no cockfighting on the occasion of such fair, carnival or exposition shall be allowed within the month of a local fiesta or for more than two occasions a year in the same city or municipality: Provided, further, that no cockfighting shall be held on December 30 (Rizal Day), June 12 (Philippine Independence Day) November 30 (National Heroes Day), Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Election or Referendum Day and during Registration Days for such election or referendum.”
Recovered during the operation were 31 live fighting cocks; eight dead fighting cocks; 213 gaffs; and P860 cash believed to be proceeds of the cockfighting.
Darroca clarified that they only took the money at the “monton area.”
“We didn’t take the money that was in the pockets, wallets, or possession of those arrested,” he said.
After all, Darroca said that they were just after arresting the violators.
