BACOLOD City — Negros Occidental Third District Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Member Andrew Montelibano has confirmed that he will run for mayor of Murcia in the 2028 local elections despite being identified by the Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) as a person of interest in the ongoing investigation into an alleged illegal online cockfighting (e-sabong) operation.
During a press conference on July 10, Montelibano gave what he described as a “100 percent” confirmation of his plan to seek a return to the Murcia mayoralty, a position he held for nine years before winning a seat on the Provincial Board in 2019.
He said it remains uncertain whether he will receive the endorsement of Negros Occidental Third District Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez but stressed that he is prepared to pursue his candidacy regardless. He also expressed hope that the Love Negros and United Negros Alliance (UNegA) political groups would unite behind a single gubernatorial candidate in the 2028 elections.
Montelibano’s announcement came two days after PRO-NIR identified him as a person of interest following the July 8 raid on an alleged e-sabong operation at Hacienda Pilar in Barangay Alicante, E.B. Magalona.
He, however, denied any involvement in the alleged illegal operation, explaining that the property where authorities conducted the raid had only been leased by a corporation associated with his family.
According to Montelibano, a prospective tenant approached his office last year seeking to rent the property, claiming it would be used to condition gamefowl. He said no formal lease agreement was executed because the arrangement was intended to be temporary.
He added that the tenant vacated the property in May 2025 before returning in December of the same year.
Montelibano maintained that he had no knowledge of any alleged e-sabong activities, noting that the leased property is located more than a kilometer from his gamefowl farm, which he regularly visits.
He also said that during the July 8 operation, police first searched the leased property before proceeding to his gamefowl farm.
Despite being named a person of interest, Montelibano thanked the Philippine National Police for what he described as a successful operation and reiterated that he had no participation in any alleged illegal online cockfighting activities.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Government of E.B. Magalona said it is leaving the investigation entirely in the hands of law enforcement authorities.
In an official statement, the local government expressed full trust in the authorities handling the case and urged the public to allow the investigation to proceed without interference.
“We entrust everything to our competent authorities to handle this matter. Let an investigation take its course,” the statement read.
The municipal government also said it would respect the outcome of the investigation, whatever the findings may be, and pledged to support any succeeding actions taken by authorities in the interest of public welfare and safety.
The statement was issued a day after the police operation in Barangay Alicante, where authorities raided the alleged illegal e-sabong operation.
Police said the investigation into the case remains ongoing./PN
