Five ‘spider derby’ enthusiasts nabbed in Antique town anew

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

Five persons engaged in “spider fight” or “paupas damang” were arrested afternoon of August 25 in Sibalom, Antique.

The suspects were identified as Glenn Mark Pelingon, 33, of Barangay Iglanot; Christopher Desabal, 30, of Barangay San Juan; and Jerry Ubial, 38, Angelbert Espuerta, 25, and Gilbert Espuerta, 23, all residents of of Barangay Maasin, Sibalom.

The local police arrested the five suspects in an anti-illegal gambling operation 3:30 pm Tuesday at Barangay Igdalaguit.

Their companion, a certain Dino Vallarta, also of Dalaguit village, escaped.

Sibalom policemen recovered several spiders placed in boxes, a table which served as the derby arena, and P300 bet money.

The suspects are now detained and will be charged for violation of Presidential Decree 1602, which prescribes stiffer penalties for illegal gambling.

On August 14, Sibalom policemen also arrested five persons, including a Sangguniang Kabataan chairman, after they were caught placing bets for spider fighting at Barangay Villar.

The arrested players are residents of other areas and include Van Regor Hantoc, 24, the SK chairperson of Barangay Alangan, Sibalom; Mark Paulino, 30, of Barangay Malaiba, San Jose, Antique; Duxs Tristan Membrido, 18, a college student from Alangan village; and Jeffrey Melo, 31, a seafarer from Barangay Cubay Napultan, Sibalom.

Also collared was Jun Omallao, 33, a laborer from Barangay Villar.

It appeared that some gamblers have resorted to spider fight derby as police are hot on the trails of cockfighting, which were temporarily disallowed while the country is curbing the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019.