Kagawad, 10 others nabbed for illegal cockfighting

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

 

BACOLOD City – The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Bacolod, and the local police arrested 11 persons, including a councilman and a tanod (watchman) for allegedly engaging in illegal cockfighting at Sitio Sabang, Barangay Elihan, Cauayan, Negros Occidental last Friday.

Executive Master Sergeant Ramiro Gocotano, Chief Investigator of CIDG-Bacolod, said Kagawad Jim Talanas, 63, was the alleged maintainer or promoter of the cockfight in the village.

Also arrested was Danny Ortega, 50, a barangay tanod, along with nine others from the said village and Sipalay City were identified as alleged bettors and record keepers.

Authorities seized fighting cocks, gaffs, ballpens, markers, calendar, papers, notebook, two cellular phones, and PHP5,790 bet money.

Apart from the illegal cockfight, Gocotano said the suspects violated health protocols amid the pandemic.

He said the suspects were not observing physical distancing and were not wearing facemasks and face shields.

All suspects are in the custody of CIDG-Bacolod. They are charged for violation of Presidential Decree No. 449 or the “Cockfighting Law of 1974,” and violation of Republic Act (RA) 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.