By Jennifer P. Rendon
Questions on legitimacy are hounding police operatives that conducted an anti-illegal gambling operation in Dumangas, Iloilo on Feb. 9, 2020.
And it appears that former Batanes congressman Carlo Oliver Diasnes, operator of Stephanie Coliseum in Barangay Balabag, Dumangas, is bent on bringing these questions to the court.
Diasnes said that the supposed “pauwakan,” which the police raised, was within the cockpit arena.
He then presented their business permit and their Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).
The ECC indicated that the cockpit is part of Diasnes’ Bacolod Capitol Corporate Center on a 40,000-square meter (sq m) lot at Balabag village.
The project includes a cockfighting arena (5,000 square meters with 7,000 seats); parking area (7,475 square meters); a 4-sq m guardhouse; a 9-sq m cookhouse; and a 50-square meter temporary bunkhouse.
He clarified, though, that the pauwakan operator is a certain Laila Gadian.
In a special permit, Gadian was granted authority to hold “pintakasi” on Feb. 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, and 22-23 at Stephanie Coliseum.
The Tagalog word pintakasi refers to someone who mediates. However, it took a new definition in contemporary usage to mean “a cockfighting derby” or celebration of cockfighting.
That’s why, Diasnes said, there’s a need for the court to decide whether the pauwakan is legal or not.
Earlier, members of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office-Provincial Special Operations Group (IPPO-PSOG) arrested 154 persons for betting on pauwakan.
Police Colonel Roland Vilela, outgoing Iloilo police chief, said the cockfight was held outside the area stated in the permit.
“The franchise is here and they did it 100 meters away from that area,” he said.
On top of that, police noted the presence of minors, which is also a violation of the law.
CONFISCATED MONEY
Apart from 154 arrested persons, police claimed to have recovered P26,220 in cash bets.
Diasnes said he saw the recovered money inside a large plastic bag
A seaman who was among the 154 persons claimed that a bundle of P1,000 bills inside his pocket was also seized.
Another cockfighting enthusiast claimed that his P49,000 cash was included in the stash.
Given that more than a hundred persons joined the cockfight, the P26,220 seizure might be a portion of the total recoveries.
“That’s their allegations. Kung agrabyado sila, they could file a case against our operatives,” Vilela said.
As of Feb. 11, 99 of the 154 arrested persons were temporarily released from Dumangas Police Station after posting bail.
Diasnes said their legal counsel is also processing the bail of others. Their camp has filed a motion in the court to reduce the bail.
