Photos courtesy of Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region
A Negros Occidental provincial board member was being investigated as a person of interest after police dismantled an alleged illegal online cockfighting operation in E.B. Magalona town.
Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region director Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño said Thursday that 3rd District Board Member Andrew Montelibano was among those under inquiry because he was seen within the property in Hacienda Pilar, Barangay Alicante, during the operation.
Cardiño said Montelibano, who chairs the Provincial Board’s games and amusement committee, would have to explain his presence at the site. He added that the official was not arrested because police had no concrete evidence linking him to the actual e-sabong activity.
Police said the operation stemmed from a search for a wanted person facing warrants for murder and frustrated murder, but the subject managed to evade arrest.
During the operation, police allegedly discovered an ongoing online cockfighting activity inside the property and arrested four persons identified only by the aliases JG, 40; FD, 38; RL, 36; and EC, 29.
Authorities seized 142 live fighting cocks, 106 dead fighting cocks, 156 gaffs, two camera stands and two television monitors from the site.
Police were preparing complaints for violation of Presidential Decree No. 1602, or the law against illegal gambling, in relation to Republic Act No. 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, against the arrested suspects now under the custody of the E.B. Magalona Municipal Police Station.
Cardiño said the investigation would continue based on evidence and due process, without regard to position or affiliation. The local government of E.B. Magalona said it would respect the outcome of the probe, while police noted that e-sabong operations remain suspended nationwide under Executive Order No. 9 issued in December 2022.
