About 14 persons were arrested following a raid conducted by the Provincial Intelligence Unit of Camp Dagohoy at the local cockpit on Jan. 2, 2023.
According to Staff Sgt. Hermenigildo Gargar, the suspects were arrested because they were allegedly conducting a cockfight without a permit.
The law says that cockfights are allowed during town fiestas, Sundays and holiday as long as there is a permit.
Apparently, the cockfight that happened on Monday, which was a non-working holiday, had no permit, according to Gargar.
Among those arrested are:
* Virgilio Fortich, 78, former vice mayor of Tubigon and owner of the cockpit arena;
* Hermenigildo Durango, 75 – a co-owner of the cockpit arena;
* Eleazar Boligao, 41 – the cockpit referee;
* Carlo Lesboras, 74 a – bettor;
* Raul Batausa, 59, another bettor
* and Lutgardo Perez, 63, a barangay councilor and a bettor.
Other persons arrested were:
* Felipe Morales, 52, a barangay tanod,
* Epefanio Diezon, 57, a bettor,
* Allan Uy, 49, an employee of the local government unit of Tubigon,
* Gilberto Tan, 60, a bet receiver,
* Pablito Pasidas, 69, a bettor,
* Teresita Acedo, 52, bet receiver,
* Angelo Purisima, 19, bettor,
* and John Dexter Corage, 28, a bettor.
Reports say that the raid caused the persons inside the arena to panic that led to a stampede.
The stampede caused some of the participants to jump over fences with sharp objects causing injuries to several persons, according to Tubigon mayor William Jao.
In this regard, the mayor asks the police to observe proper rules of engagement to prevent a stampede that will result into injuries to the participants.
The mayor also said there were several persons who were brought to a nearby hospital to get treatment for their injuries.
Moreover, Jao said management of cockpits should follow the law and place their permits in a conspicuous place before letting people engage in a cockfight.