KALIBO, Aklan – Police stopped an illegal cockfight in Barangay Caano here around 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 27 and arrested 13 persons.
Many others, however, managed to slip away.
Illegal cockfighting here is known as bueo bueo.
The 13 arrested persons where caught in the act of placing bets.
“Naghabulan pa to evade arrest. Ang iba doon naaresto sa palaisdaan,” said raid team leader Lieutenant Alona Layson.
Cops recovered six fighting cocks, gaffs/blades, P2,350 cash and three dead fighting cocks.
The arrested suspects were Joseph Lura, Reynaldo Estenor, Ramen Malbas and Rolly Dela Rosa of Barangay Pook; Juvel Galopo, Mark Judie Galopo, Andrew Daroy, Ace John Andrade, James Vincent Gonzales, Jover Berte, Juvel Galopo, and Deo Cipriano of Barangay Mabilo, and Rajah Nolinie Quitobera of Barangay Caano. They were taken to the Kalibo municipal police station.
The suspects face a charge for violation of Presidential Decree 449 which prohibits unsanctioned cockfights and Presidential Degree 1602 which increased the penalties for violations of Presidential Decree 449.
Kalibo chief of police Major Belshazzar Villanoche called on the public to cooperate and report to the police all forms of illegal activities in the barangays.
Cockfighting has been and still is a popular, traditional and customary form of recreation and entertainment among Filipinos during legal holidays, local fiestas, agricultural, commercial and industrial fairs, carnivals or expositions.
But “it should neither be exploited as an object of commercialism or business enterprise, nor made a tool of uncontrolled gambling, but more as a vehicle for the preservation and perpetuation of native Filipino heritage and thereby enhance our national identity,” read part of Presidential Decree 449/PN
