Illegal cockfighting raid in Romblon nabs former mayor, 39 others

SAN FERNANDO, Romblon — A former mayor of San Fernando town in Sibuyan Island, Romblon and 39 others were arrested on Sunday afternoon after authorities raided an alleged illegal cockfighting operation, police said.

Joint personnel from the San Fernando Municipal Police Station and the Romblon Police Mobile Force Company’s 3rd Platoon conducted the raid at Sibuyan Amusement Center Corp. (SACC) along the National Road in Barangay Panangcalan, San Fernando, over its alleged operation without a franchise and business permit.

Although the Mimaropa police did not identify the former mayor, former San Fernando mayor Naneth Tansingco confirmed that her husband, former mayor Salem Tansingco, was among those arrested.

Naneth Tansingco also acknowledged that members of their family and their friends were shareholders in the cockfighting business, whose president is her son-in-law.

However, she claimed that the business was being targeted by local authorities.

Tansingco said the municipal government had refused to accept their payment for a business permit, despite their having paid the required fees. She said SACC subsequently filed a motion for consignation before a court, which granted the motion.

She also argued that a municipal council resolution was sufficient to grant a franchise for cockfighting operations and that a municipal ordinance was not necessary.

“Where in Romblon na may ordinance ang franchise? Wala! Kahit na sa ibang bayan, valid yung resolution kasi si court, si RTC, hindi rin naman sinabi na hindi sila pwdeng magpasabong because the franchise is resolution,” Tansingco said.

Aside from the reported betting money, police recovered fighting cocks, gaffs, protective equipment, laptops, printers, scanners, networking devices and other equipment believed to be connected to the alleged unauthorized operation.

Authorities inventoried and marked the seized items in the presence of the arrested individuals, a lawyer and barangay officials before bringing the suspects and the evidence to the San Fernando Municipal Police Station for documentation and appropriate legal proceedings.

Police said a complaint for alleged violation of Section 5(d), in relation to Section 8 of Presidential Decree No. 449, as amended by Presidential Decree No. 1602, was being prepared for filing before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor through inquest proceedings.