By Calvin D. Cordova
CEBU CITY — Charges were filed against a barangay chairman, who was accused of organizing an illegal cockfight in Balamban town, Cebu last Saturday.
Wilfredo Alvarado, barangay captain of Lamesa in Balamban, was charged for violating Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, Presidential Decree 449 or the Cockfighting Law and Cebu Provincial Ordinance 2020-5.
The barangay captain remains at large, said Police Maj. Christian Torres, chief of the Balamban Police Station.
“He was able to run when raiding police arrived. We went to his house but he was no longer there,” said Torres.
Torres said Alvarado has been repeatedly warned to stop organizing cockfights.
“We have been reprimanding him. We have received reports that he was behind the staging of illegal cockfights in the barangay,” said Torres.
Arrested during the raid were Ruben Sacamay Gabutin, 56; Judito Bantiles Dumdum, 35; Teodoro Madarang, 61; Jeronio Banate, 49; and Jovanie Basillote, 27.
Police Col. Roderick Mariano, chief of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, expressed disappointment that a barangay chairman could be involved in an illegal activity instead of enforcing the law.
“I am appealing to these barangay officials to stop these illegal cockfights. Even if these are staged in mountain barangays, the police will really go there to stop these illegal activities,” said Mariano.