Baragay Councilman, treasurer arrested in ‘tigbakay’ raid

CEBU, Philippines —  A barangay councilor and treasurer were among the five that were arrested by the authorities for illegal cockfighting, commonly known as tigbakay, around 2:30 p.m. last Thursday in Barangay Canbanua, Argao, Cebu.

The suspects were identified as Edilor Subrecary Salomere, 58, a village councilor, and his son, Jemster Salomere Bahinting, 34, who works as the barangay treasurer.

Arrested with them were Ruel Escalante, 54; Nikki Romanillos Yting, 50; and Angelo Abella Bajo, 32.

Police Corporal Apolinar Albiso Jr. of the Argao Police Station said other participants managed to elude the arrest when the police arrived.

Some of those who managed to escape were identified as Lemuel Cañete and Carlo Quintanar of Barangay Poblacion; and Richard Sarsaba of Barangay Canbanua.

Albiso said the three who are at large will also face the same charges of PD 1602 along with the five others who got arrested.

Police Captain Elstone Dabon, chief of Argao Police Station, said it was Yting who organized the illegal cockfighting. Yting reportedly owns the area where the tigbakay was held.

Although it was the first time that elected barangay officials in Argao were arrested for their involvement in tigbakay, it was not the first time that arrests involving government officials for engaging in tigbakay happened in other areas in Cebu Province.

Last July 29, at least 58 persons, two of them were barangay councilors, were arrested for illegal cockfighting in an isolated area at Sitio Calapayan, Barangay Tubod, San Fernando.

Last July 25, around 31 persons were also arrested for the same activity at Sitio Ragasa, Barangay Bitoon, Daanbantayan, Cebu, while another eight persons were arrested for the same illegal activity in Liloan, Cebu the day after.

There are also seven elected officials who will be facing charges after investigation revealed that they have participated in the illegal activity. — GAN (FREEMAN)