ORMOC CITY– A barangay chairman and a village security of this city were among those arrested after they were caught engaging in illegal cockfighting on Sunday (Jan.27).
Arrested were Leonilo Lagata,63, village chairman of Tongonan and Junito Tumampo,44, a village security while engaging in illegal cockfighting at about 4 pm in Purok 7, Barangay Nueva Vista.
Also arrested by a team of the City Mobile Force Company and Police Station 5 were Armando Pales Jr., 32, and a resident of Sitio Laray, Brgy. Hibunawon; Solito Mollejon, 43, an employee of a private company and a resident of Brgy. Nueva Vista; and Francisco Sapilan, 40, and resident of Purok 5, Brgy. Nueva Vista.
Case investigator Police Staff Sergeant Rodel Superales said in an interview that at about 4 pm on Sunday, intel operatives from the City Mobile Force and Station 5 while conducting intel monitoring in Brgy. Nueva Vista, received information of an ongoing illegal cockfighting or ‘tupada’ at the open space of Purok 7.
Upon receipt of the information, they immediately responded to the area to verify the report and saw a group of persons who were actually engaged in illegal cockfighting.
The police officers asked the arrested suspects if they had any permit to conduct a cockfighting activity, but the suspects failed to present any.
Recovered in the area were several dead fighting cocks, gaffes, and bet money worth P700.
The arrested suspects were brought to OCPS5 for documentation and proper disposition and were charged for violation of PD449, or illegal cockfighting.
(ROBERT DEJON)
