Several individuals were arrested over the weekend for unauthorized cockfighting in Barangay Gines Nuevo, located in San Enrique, Iloilo.
Authorities identified the arrested suspects as 31-year-old Redgel Pabiona, 23-year-old Rodolfo Roy Serafico, and 42-year-old Bernardo Paches of the town’s Barangay Bato; 18-year-old Justine Querubin of the municipality’s Barangay Asisig; and 38-year-old Romel Devecais of the said neighborhood.
In addition, police also nabbed two Passi City residents, 30-year-old Rufillo Palowa of Barangay Quinagaringan and 21-year-old John Rey Roquio of Barangay Imbang Grande.
The cockpit used by the suspects was found to be without a proper permit and police confiscated bet money amounting to P4,703, along with three rosters.
The suspects are charged in violation of Presidential Decree No. 1602, signed in 1978 by then-President Ferdinand Marcos, which implemented stiffer penalties on illegal gambling.
Last week, a number of individuals were also arrested for illegal gambling in Cabatuan’s Barangay Duyan-Duyan. Authorities identified the arrested suspects as 42-year-old Charles Pacaonsis, 49-year-old Rex Lozada, 43-year-old Alex Alegrado, 56-year-old Wilson Ares, 45-year-old Pedro Bonto, and 43-year-old John Lieven, all of the said neighborhood.
Police said the suspects were caught playing a card game called “pusoy.”
Law enforcement personnel recovered bet money amounting to P1,400 and set of playing cards./WDJ