MONTELIBANO
BACOLOD CITY – Negros Occidental third district Board Member Andrew Montelibano is willing to be investigated after he was reportedly found in the vicinity of an illegal online cockfighting or e-sabong den in Barangay Alicante, E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, July 8.
In a press briefing on Friday, July 10, Montelibano said that he is prepared to fully cooperate in the investigation. “I just want to clear my name.”
Montelibano was tagged by authorities as a person of interest after he was reportedly found near the five-hectare property. “This may have a little damage on my name, but it’s okay.”
He said that he is considered a co-owner of the property which is a fishpond under a corporation but has not been operating it for the past 20 years.
“I respect the Philippine National Police (PNP). If they consider me a person of interest, I understand that it may be because I am part of the ownership of the corporation involved,” he said.
Montelibano said that a certain Ricky rented the property to raise game fowls last December. But no contract was drafted as Ricky leased the property for a short time with a P15,000 monthly rent.
Since rent was paid on time from January to May, Montelibano said they allowed the property to be leased again this month. But Montelibano denied any knowledge about e-sabong activities in the property and is willing to cooperate in an investigation.
“Whatever information I know, I will willingly share because I believe this is simply part of the legal process. Our only involvement was renting out the property. We cannot control what tenants do inside once the property has been leased,” he added.
He also said that he does not know Ronel, a regional level most wanted person and the subject of a manhunt.
Montelibano said that he stands with the police in their efforts to arrest criminals. “I have no regrets. I have nothing against the PNP, and I even congratulate them,” he added.
“If I truly wanted to become involved in online sabong, I could have done so during the pandemic when I had every opportunity. I refused. My family’s connection to game fowl goes back to the 1970s through my father, who was a breeder,” he said.