Talisay mayor urges vigilance after e-sabong raid

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Talisay City Mayor Rowena “Weng” Lizares urged residents to remain vigilant after authorities dismantled an alleged illegal online cockfighting operation reportedly linked to businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang in Barangay Concepcion on April 23.

Lizares joined PNP chief Police Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla in a press briefing and site visit on April 25.

Barangay Concepcion is known as a center for breeding and selling fighting cocks in Talisay City, but Lizares urged residents to report any information on illegal online gambling.

“Be vigilant,” she stressed.

In a recent media interview, Lizares said Ang was reportedly one of the financiers of the operation, but she did not disclose more details because an investigation by proper authorities is ongoing.

Lizares said authorities received information about the operation at a cock farm that appeared to be an ordinary breeding ground for fighting cocks.

Inside, however, authorities found a studio set up for online sabong, she said.

“It’s as if you are in a different country, well in fact it is just being rented in Talisay City,” she added.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group arrested 30 people at a private property in Barangay Concepcion on April 23.

The Philippine National Police said the site was allegedly being used for illegal online cockfighting by an organized group.

Police said two people were rescued during the intelligence-driven operation, while a minor found on-site was placed under proper care and protection.

Lizares said only three of the 30 arrested people, including the minor, were residents of Talisay City, while the rest were from Luzon.

Authorities recovered equipment used for livestreaming, communication devices, and various cockfighting paraphernalia.

Lizares said authorities also recovered at least 280 fighting cocks, which they are looking into in connection with a series of fighting cock thefts in the city.

E-sabong, or online sabong, involves remote or off-site betting on livestreamed cockfighting matches, according to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

Executive Order No. 9, issued in 2022, continued the nationwide suspension of all e-sabong operations, including livestreaming or broadcasting live cockfights outside cockpits and online or off-cockpit betting on live matches.

In a press briefing in Bago City on Friday, Remulla urged the public to provide authorities with information on Ang, who is being sought in connection with the missing sabungeros case.