By Jennifer P. Rendon
Darting through rice paddies, Police Corporal Virgilio Rojo Jr. appeared to be running for his life.
But no, the 37-year-old policeman was not running from or after anyone.
Instead, Rojo was running away from fellow police officer who later arrested him.
Rojo, a member of the Iloilo City Police Station 6 detailed to the General Services Office (GSO) of the Iloilo City Police Office, was caught on video escaping arrest after he and four other men were caught in an alleged illegal cockfighting (tupada) at Barangay Cagbang, Oton, Iloilo around 1:30 p.m. of July 10, 2021.
Members of the Oton Police Station and the 1st Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company (IPMFC) went to Cagbang village following reports of an ongoing tupada, or pauwak, in the area.
Captain Robert Jayson Pancha said they arrested Rojo, a resident of Barangay Botong; Isaac Villavicencio, 51, also of Cagbang village; Efren Joan Sampiano, 35, of Barangay Mohon, Arevalo, Iloilo City; Raman Dejapa, 42, of Zone 15, Barangay Calaparan, Arevalo; and Mark Crucero, 38, of Barangay San Isidro, Jaro, Iloilo City.
Police recovered three heads of live fighting cocks, a dead gamefowl, P4,020 cash bet, three gaffs, a digital weighing scale, a derby box carton, and a sling bag.
After they were rounded up, Rojo allegedly told Pancha, “Sir, tropa man ako (Sir, I’m a cop).”
“Ti ano kung tropa ka? Arestado ka (So what if you’re a cop? You’re under arrest),” Pancha was quoted to have said.
While the Miranda Doctrine was being recited to the suspects, Rojo allegedly scampered through the rice field. He even managed to drive a motorcycle.
But Oton cops later caught him at the nearby Pakiad village, which is more than one kilometer from where the tupada was held.
Pancha said Rojo was in tears claiming that his children are still young.
The suspects are now detained and will be charged for violation of Presidential Decree 449 (Cockfighting Law of 1974).
Despite repeated reminders, police continue to arrest persons in illegal cockfighting activity.
On April 4, 2021, a police officer was also caught engaging in an illegal cockfight activity in San Joaquin, Iloilo.
Staff Sergeant Jose Digcabo-on Jr. is back on duty status four days after serving a one-month suspension when he was caught in the Easter Sunday cockfight.
