LIZARES
Mayor Rowena Lizares called on residents of Talisay City, Negros Occidental to stay alert after police dismantled an alleged illegal online cockfighting or e-sabong operation in Barangay Concepcion, Talisay on April 23.
Lizares urged residents to report any information related to illegal online gambling activities.
She said the discovery of e-sabong operations in Barangay Concepcion, a known hub for breeding fighting cocks, has an effect in the industry. “Sure enough, we will be more vigilant,” she said in a media interview.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested 30 persons, mostly from Luzon, in a rented private property, where a studio was reportedly put up for the operation.
“It’s a closed (cock) farm, and not visible from the outside,” Lizares said.
She said the incident would have addressed reports on stolen fighting cocks in the area.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, during a press briefing, identified Police Major Edgar Tonico Jr., chief of CIDG-Bacolod, as an alleged protector of e-sabong operations in the province.
Tonico was reportedly a cohort of businessman Atong Ang at the height of e-sabong between 2020 and 2022. Remulla could not establish Ang’s direct link to e-sabong in the province.