ILOILO City – For illegal cockfighting, a police officer assigned here and his four companions were arrested in Barangay Cagbang, Oton, Iloilo over the weekend.
The Oton police identified the suspects as:
* Police Corporal Virgilio Rojo, 37, of the town’s Barangay Botong and assigned at the General Social Services (GSO) of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO)
* Issac Villavicencio, 51, of Barangay Cagbang
* Efren Joan Samillano, 35, of Barangay Mohon, Arevalo district
* Arman Dejapa, 43 of Barangay Calaparan, Arevalo district
* Marck Crucero, 38, of Barangay San Isidro, Jaro district
They were arrested around 1:30 p.m. Police caught them “promoting illegal cockfighting activity” locally known as “pauwak”.
Rojo tried to evade arrest but was eventually caught in a hot pursuit operation.
Recovered from the area were three game fowls, nine gaff blades and P4,020 bet money.
The policeman and his companions were taken to the Oton police station. They would be charged for violation of Presidential Decree 449 (Cockfighting Law of 1974).
Police Colonel Uldarico Garbanzos, city police director, said Rojo would face administrative and criminal charges.
“My instruction was clear: Avoid illegal activities. He will face sanctions because he violated the order,” Garbanzos stressed.
He recalled ordering Rojo’s relief a few months ago after receiving reports that the policeman was involved in illegal activities. He was transferred from the Arevalo police station to the ICPO.
Garbanzos recommended summary hearing proceedings at the Police Regional Office 6’s (PRO-6) Internal Affairs Service.
Rojo would also be relieved from the ICPO and is set to be transferred to the PRO-6’s Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit while under investigation./PN
