Eleazar orders crackdown on illegal cockfighting after arrests in Batangas

Joint Task Force COVID Shield commander Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar ordered all police commanders to intensify intelligence operations and barangay-level coordination against illegal cockfighting and other forms of illegal gambling after the arrest of some local officials in Batangas.

In a press statement issued Friday, Eleazar noted that cockfighting is strictly banned amid the implementation of quarantine protocols across the country.

“Ilegal na nga ang ganitong gawain parang binabastos pa nila ang ating gobyerno na walang tigil na nagtratrabaho at naghahanap ng sapat na pondo para lang sa proteksyon nila at ng kanilang pamilya laban sa COVID. Kailangang matigil ito at bigyan ng leksyon ang mga taong ito,” Eleazar said.

Eleazar issued the statement following a successful operation against illegal cockfighting in Alitagtag wherein a total of 14 individuals were arrested on September 30.

Among those arrested were  a municipal councilor, a barangay captain, and a former vice mayor of Alitagtag. 

"The successful operation in Alitagtag, Batangas gives us all the idea of what we can achieve if the police and the community will work together to maintain peace and order and to protect every community from the coronavirus," Eleazar said.

"We encourage our commanders to continue reaching out to the community because every person in the barangay plays a key role in the security and safety of every community,” he added.

A tip from concerned citizens prompted the police to conduct the operation against the illegal cockfighting in the town.

Batangas police said those arrested would face charges for alleged violation of Presidential Decree 1602 (Illegal Gambling), Republic Act 11469 (Bayanihan to Heal as One Act) and Republic Act 11332 (Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Disease and Health Event on Public Health Concern Act). —LBG, GMA News