Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar ordered all police commanders to launch a crackdown on all the illegal cockfighting operations, popularly known as tupada, in the country amid reports of the prevalence of the illegal gambling game despite the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Eleazar issued the order after a barangay captain and 16 other people were arrested in Calamba City in Laguna for holding a tupada and violating minimum public health safety protocols. Laguna is part of the NCR Plus and remains under the General Community Quarantine with heightened restrictions.
Tupada was also the reason why the Valenzuela City police conducted a raid which resulted in the death of Edwin Arnigo, an 18-year old with special needs, after he was allegedly hit accidentally after trying to grab the firearm of one of the policemen.
“Ang ilegal na tupadang ito ang mitsa sa nakakalungkot na pangyayari kay Edwin Arnigo. (This illegal cockfighting was one of the reasons why Edwin Arnigo died). Therefore, I am ordering all police commanders to launch a crackdown against thIs form of illegal activity,” said Eleazar.
Eleazar also expressed dismay that among the arrested violators was a barangay captain. A few months ago, a policeman was also arrested in one of the raids on an anti-illegal cockfighting operations in Pasig.
“I am also coordinating with the SILG Eduardo Año to give the PNP the clearance to immediately file cases against barangay officials where successful anti-tupada operations would be conducted,” he added.
Eleazar also reminded police officers not to get involved with illegal gambling activities, including tupada.
“Binabalaan ko rin po ang ating PNP personnel na huwag proprotektahan o kukunsintihin ang anumang klaseng iligal na sugal, gaya ng tupada, dahil siguradong mamalasin kayo sa akin. (I am warning our PNP personnel not to protect or tolerate any kind of illegal gambling like illegal cockfighting because I will hold you responsible," said Eleazar.
He also directed police commanders: "Keep your units professional and disciplined at all times.”
The pandemic, on the other hand, popularized online sabong, or the live-streaming of cockfighting as legal cockfighting operations were force to shut down operations due to the quarantine rules.