EVIDENCE. Personnel of the Davao City Police Office recovers the bet money amounting to PHP245,734 and 33 pieces of rooster blades during an anti-illegal gambling operation in Barangay 10-A on Sunday (Sept. 6, 2020). The operation resulted in the apprehension of a barangay chairman and a village councilor, as well as 27 other offenders. (Photo courtesy of DCPO-PIO)
DAVAO CITY – Mayor Sara Z. Duterte lauded the efforts of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) for the arrest of a village chief and a councilor of Barangay 10-A here for participating in illegal cockfighting on Sunday afternoon.
“We need to thank them for their efforts and for taking time in finding and arresting these barangay officials. They do not shirk from their job on law enforcement,” Mayor Sara said in a radio interview on Monday.
Duterte said that they have been receiving reports that Barangay 10-A village chairperson Marc Cayetano and barangay councilor Romeo Mamontayo have long been engaged in illegal cockfighting, despite the stern warning from the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) and the city government because of the prevailing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
“We have long been hearing reports from their constituents. These government officials are supposed to be law-abiding citizens,” she said.
The barangay officials were arrested in an anti-illegal gambling operation initiated by the DCPO's Special Operation Group, City Drug Enforcement Unit ((SOG/CDEU), and the San Pedro Police.
A police report said that before the duo's arrest, DCPO had received a complaint from a concerned citizen regarding ongoing cockfighting at a farm owned by Cayetano.
Police recovered several pieces of evidence, including two fighting cocks with gaff, PHP245,734 bet money, and 33 pieces of gaffs or rooster blades. Along with the two barangay officials, police also arrested 27 other individuals.
The barangay officials will be charged for violation of Presidential Decree 449 (Cockfighting Law of 1974) as amended by PD 1602, which prescribes stiffer penalties for illegal gambling, and RA 11332 or the "Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act," as well as other related local ordinances.
“We will pursue the case. However, they will undergo due process despite of being caught red-handed and have admitted the mistake,” Mayor Sara said, adding that she will also refer the case of the village officials to the Department of the Interior and Local Government for the administrative aspects of the charges.
“When I received the report from DCPO yesterday, I exclaimed hallelujah for you are finally arrested,” she said, referring to Cayetano.
Duterte also revealed that Cayetano, who is also a member of Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) which she led, has tried to explain his part through a text message.
“He texted my staff and said he will explain his part. I did not send any reply to him and I will say my answer here over the radio—that our police officers should look for criminals or terrorists, you–Captain Cayetano, you wasted their time to find you. You should have done the cockfighting in Mars or Pluto so that they [DCPO] will not spend and waste their time looking for you,” Mayor Sara added.
She also reminded the barangay officials to do their job "rightfully and avoid doing something illegal. Do not be the person to violate the law; you are supposed to implement the law in your barangay. You are not fit to become a barangay captain." (PNA)
