Police are now hunting down a barangay captain who was accused of repeatedly organizing illegal cockfighting in his barangay in Cebu despite the strict implementation of quarantine rules that include prohibition against mass gathering.
Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, spokesman of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said Wilfredo Alvarado eluded arrest when the local police raided an illegal cockfighting which he organized on Saturday.
Alvarado is the chairman of Barangay Lamesa in Balamban town of Cebu.
“He is actually the target of the operation because of the confirmed intelligence reports about this kind of illegal activity,” said Banac.
Nabbed during the operation were Ruben Gabutin, 56; Judito Dumdum, 35; Teodoro Madarang, 61; Jeronio Banate, 49; and, Jovanie Basillote, 27.
Seized were two gaffs spurs with scabbards, two color red fighting cocks; two fighting cock cages; two units motorcycles; and cash amounting to P3,420.00 in different denominations used as bet money.
The arrested suspects were brought to Balamban Municipal Police Station for proper disposition and appropriate filing of criminal charges on Monday, May 18 for violating Presidential Decree 449 (Cockfighting Law).
It was recalled that President Duterte has ordered the Department of Interior and Local Government to investigate barangay executives for organizing illegal cockfighting events amid the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Luzon and some parts of the country.
Duterte also ordered the PNP to run after local government officials involved in the anomalous distribution of the government’s cash assistance through the Social Amelioration Program. (Aaron Recuenco)