TACLOBAN City - The Northern Samar Police Provincial Office has intensified its campaign against illegal gambling following Governor Edwin Onchuan's stern warning against persons involved in illegal activities, especially "tupada" (cockfighting) as they violate health protocols set in combating the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
He emphasized that no one will be spared, even government officials. “Consider this as my last warning,” Gov. Oncghuan said.
Despite the serious campaign of the Provincial Government in containing the spread of COVID-19, four "tupada" aficionados tested positive for the virus after allegedly attending an illegal cockfighting activity in the municipality of Bobon last month.
PCol. Arnel Apud, NSPPO provincial director, immediately ordered intensified operations against illegal gambling. A total of 14 operations were successfully launched by different units resulting in the arrest of 65 individuals from September 1 to 9, 2020.
Based on the record, 10 operations were launched against illegal cockfighting -- two in Pambujan, two in Catarman, two in Mondragon, one in Bobon, one in Gamay, one in Lavezares, and one in Las Navas. This resulted in the arrest of 33 individuals with a total of Php9, 529.00 worth of confiscated items.
At least 19 individuals engaging in other forms of gambling -- tong-its, mahjong, and pusoy-dos -- in the municipalities of Gamay, Palapag, San Antonio, and Biri were arrested in four operations with Php2,042.00 worh of bet money and paraphernalia seized.
All suspects, together with the recovered pieces of evidence were immediately brought to the respective operating units for proper disposition. Charges for violation of anti-illegal gambling laws and quarantine guidelines had been filed in court.
Apud appealed to the public to refrain from any activities or gatherings that can put their health at risk.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH-8) confirmed eight more COVID-19 deaths in Eastern Visayas on Wednesday.
This brings the region’s total COVID-19 deaths to 33 with 3,569 confirmed cases as of September 9, DOH-8 regional director, Dr. Minerva Molon said.
The newly reported deaths include an 88-year-old female here and a 58-year-old female from Tanauan town, both in Leyte, respectively; a 70-year-old female and a 58-year-old male patient from Basey, Samar; a 64-year-old and 52-year-old male patients from Catbalogan City, Samar; a 61-year-old male from Paranas, Samar; and a 75-year-old male from Biliran, Biliran.
Molon said these patients died from August 31 to September 8 with a .94 percent case fatality rate.
“The recorded deaths in the region since March are mostly senior citizens and those with comorbidities such as kidney and cardiac diseases, hypertension, and diabetes, among others,” the official noted.
The DOH also reported 64 fresh COVID-19 cases in the region.
Molon has noted a decrease with 443 cases recorded from September 2-8 compared to 699 cases logged in the previous week. The majority of the new cases are locally acquired, wherein 17.78 percent or 346 are healthcare workers.
The top 10 areas with the highest recorded cases are Tacloban City-110; Catbalogan City-46; Calbayog City-38; Palo, Leyte-24; Pinabacdao, Samar-14; Catarman, Northern Samar-12; Villarreal, Samar-12; Alangalang, Leyte-11; Malitbog, Southern Leyte-9; Naval, Biliran-8; and San Miguel, Leyte-8.
DOH-8 also reported 99 more recoveries from the disease, bringing the total recoveries in the region to 2,658 or 74.47 percent of the total confirmed cases.
To date, Region 8 has 878 active cases admitted in hospitals, local quarantine and isolation units, and temporary treatment and monitoring facilities.
Molon has attributed the increase to local transmission and the arrival of locally stranded individuals (LSIs).