By Jennifer P. Rendon
Five persons were arrested in an illegal cockfight in Oton, Iloilo Monday morning.
Police identified the suspects as Joshua Alminante, 22, of Barangay Lanot, Oton; Gregorio Amada 35, of Cabaluna Street, Alimodian, Iloilo; Edwin Suarnaba, 54, of Barangay Lupa, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo; Gil Yucon, 45, of Mandurriao, Iloilo City; and LG Armada, 25, of Alimodian, Iloilo.
Members of Oton Police Station caught them placing bets in an illegal cockfight at an improvised cockpit in the middle of a farm in Barangag Tagbak Sur, Oton around 8 am Monday.
Recovered from the area were 11 dead fighting cocks, ten gaff blades, a weighting scale, cash amounting to P10,800, seven clippers, and five live fighting cocks.
Meanwhile, members of Ivisan Police Station in Capiz also arrested three persons, including one minor, for the same offense at Barangay Malocloc Norte, Ivisan.
Oliver Balboa, 27, of Barangay Bago Chiquito, Panay, Capiz; Salvador Amosin, 37, of Barangay Malocloc Norte, Ivisan; and the minor were collared Sunday afternoon.
The two suspects were put behind bars while the minor was endorsed to the police’s Women and Children’s Protection Desk.
Seized in the area were a dead fighting cock, a wounded rooster, two gaffs, and cash bet of P1,200.
The suspects will be charge for violation of Presidential Decree 449 (Cockfighting Law
of 1974).
The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) has repeatedly said that it would go against all forms of illegal gambling in Western Visayas.
Aside from illegal cockfight, police are also running against spider derby and other forms of illegal gambling.
Over the weekend, members of Buruanga Police Station in Aklan arrested four persons who were caught in a spider derby.
Police arrested Greg Gregorio, Jonel Ligo, Ronald Ligo, and Genesis Estoris around 3:15 p.m. of Sunday at Barangay Tigum, Buruanga.
The suspects were caught in the act of engaging in a spider fight and seized from them bet money of P370.
Also recovered from their possession were four spiders, three improvised spider cages, and two bamboo sticks.
The four suspects will face charges for violation of Presidential Decree 1602 (Providing Stiffer Penalties on Illegal Gambling).
