Six men, including a barangay chairman, were arrested on Sunday (July 19) after they were found to be engaging in cockfighting activities in Tondo, Manila, in violation of various laws and an ordinance.
Police identified the suspects as Barangay 125 Chairman Silvestre Dumagat Jr., Dumagat's caretaker Wilfredo Marullano, Lito Siana, 50, Arnel King, 32, Daryl Ellorin, 30, and Daniel Custodio, 37.
Elements of the Raxabago Police Station conducted an operation against the suspects at around 12:30 p.m. and nabbed Siana, King, Ellorin, and Custodio.
Investigation showed that Dumagat and Marullano fled after the barangay chairman recognized the police, but they were collared by the police some four hours later in a follow-up operation while they were waiting for yet another cockfighting game to start.
Raxabago Police Station chief Lt. Col. Christopher Navida said he reprimanded Dumagat on April 5 and warned him not to engage in cockfighting activities.
Seven roosters and P500 were retrieved from the suspects.
The arrested barangay chairman will be facing charges for violating City Ordinance No. 8627, that orders the mandatory use of face masks in all public places in Manila; Republic Act (RA) No. 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act; and Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1602, that prohibits and imposes stiffer penalties on gambling.
Marullano will be charged for violating City Ordinance No. 8627 and RA 11332, while the other four suspects will face raps for violating PD 1602.