3 Cebu town officials, DILG staff nabbed for illegal cockfight
CEBU CITY – Three elected officials of Poro, Camotes Island in Cebu and an employee of the Department of Interior and Local Government in Central Visayas (DILG Region 7) and 51 other individuals were arrested midnight Monday for participating in a “tupada” or illegal cockfight midnight.
Operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Unit and 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company caught the 55 individuals participating in an illegal derby at the Gallera de Lagnasan in Barangay Esperanza, Poro.
Among those arrested were Poro Councilors Ashley Otadoy, 54; Andrew Zurita, 38; and Mercedes Barangay Councilor Dennis Camomot, 48, and Cliff Otadoy, a 52-year-old employee of the DILG Region 7.
Police Col. Engelbert Soriano, chief of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO), said the raid was conducted after the police received reports of an ongoing derby in Poro. “They were really caught in the act,” said Soriano.
In separate interviews, Poro Mayor Edgar Rama and Poro Vice Mayor Luciano Rama condemned the local officials caught joining illegal cockfighting activities.
“The full force of the law should be implemented. They should not abuse their capacity as elected officials,” the Poro vice mayor said.
Mayor Rama said despite the current community quarantine, the town has permitted some cockfights in the town but what was raided last Monday didn’t have necessary permits. “That cockfighting held last midnight was not granted with any permit, as far as I can remember,” the Poro mayor said.