Cop nabbed over illegal cockfighting in Cebu City

A policeman allegedly involved in cockfighting was arrested by operatives of the Philippine National Police - Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (PNP - IMEG) in Barangay Lahug in Cebu City on Sunday.

The police officer was identified as Police Staff Sergeant Charlito Sanchez Tinoy, who is assigned at the Regional Personnel Holding Accounting Section.

Three civilians, who were not named, were also nabbed for supposedly being involved in other illegal gambling operations amid the community quarantine in Barangay Sudlon.

PNP chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa identified the three as Jojo Ombos Mainit, Frederick Jacalan Vosotros, and Lando Sabanal Calumba.

“We're intensifying our monitoring of policemen involved in all forms of illegal activities and assure the public that we will apprehend them as soon as we have built enough evidence against them," PNP - IMEG chief Police Brigadier General Ronald Lee said in a press release on Monday.

"We must make it clear that General Gamboa has a strict zero tolerance policy against police officers who continue to tarnish the good reputation and image of majority of the police force,” Lee added.

Cebu City is the only city in the country under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) -- the most restrictive of all quarantine measures -- due to high number of COVID-19 cases.

Lee said the operation was conducted due to some complaints received by authorities about illegal gambling operations in the area.

Police also monitored individuals in the compound violating physical distancing protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Some were also not wearing face masks, the police added.

Seized during the operation were illegal gambling paraphernalia, money from bets, and some fighting cocks.

The suspects were brought to the PNP - IMEG office in Visayas Field Unit for documentation and filing of appropriate charges, Lee said.

Lee then urged the public to report erring cops in the following hotlines:
09989702286 (Smart) and 09957952569 (Globe). --Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News