Romblon town mayor, 200 others arrested over cockfighting amid Alert Level 3

Some 200 people including the mayor of Ferrol, Romblon were arrested for engaging in cockfight activities despite the prohibition under Alert Level 3, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday.

In a statement, the PNP said Ferrol Mayor Jovencio Mayor Jr. and the others were arrested in a joint operation at a cockpit area in Tubigon Square Garden on Sunday.

PNP Chief General Dionardo Carlos said they violated the IATF Resolution No. 159-A series of 2022 and Cockfighting Law of 1974 as amended by Presidential Decree 1602.

“This is a clear violation of IATF Resolution No. 159-A series of 2022, and Presidential Decree 449 or the Cockfighting Law of 1974 as amended by Presidential Decree 1602. All persons engaged in the cockfight were arrested and booked,” Carlos said.

He added that authorities are preparing to file complaints against the arrested persons.

“It is unfortunate that an elected official was among the arrested violators, but we are just acting on reports with careful monitoring. It will be up for the prosecutor to appreciate the evidence,” Carlos said.

Confiscated during the operation were an undetermined amount of bet money, gambling paraphernalia, dead and live fighting cocks with attached gaffs.

The Criminal Investigation Detection Group-Romblon  received information about the cockfighting in the cockpit arena despite that the province is under Alert Level 3. When verified, it launched the operation. — BM, GMA News