Bettors caught in the tupada. Contributed photo
GAPAN CITY – Thirteen people were hauled to the police station after operatives reportedly caught them in the act of holding a “tupada” or illegal cockfight under bamboo groves in the outskirt village of Maburak here at around 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
City police chief Lt. Col. Alexie Desamito identified the suspects as Romeo Angeles, 63; Guilbert Cervantes, 46; Edwin Antonio, 37; Jerry Sacro, 52;
Ildefonso Ganay, 48; Teodoro Dimalanta, 61; Jesus Angeles, 63; Rolando Leonardo, 54; Estanislao De Guzman y Acosta, 71; Montano Concepcion, 61; John Michael Vincent Torres, 21; Christofer Guantic, 44; and
Nelson Mabilin, 48, all residents of different villages all of this city.
Some of the suspects tried to elude arrest by jumping off the river but were also caught, Desamito said. Others though scampered and managed to escape, she added.
Desamito said the raid was conducted after police received a tip from a concerned citizen that a tupada was being held in the lot owned by Angeles.
“The suspects were caught in the act (of) engaging in illegal cockfighting activities,” she said.
Police seized three live and one dead fighting cocks, two pieces of gaff (tari) and P2,380 bet money.
A criminal complaint for violation of Presidential Decree 1602 or Illegal gambling is being prepared against the suspects as of presstime.
