CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Police arrested seven suspects caught engaged in an illegal online cockfighting operation or e-sabong in Barangay Telapayong, Arayat, Pampanga on Sept. 14.
The suspects were identified as Larry Lulu y Canlas, Reyner David y Suarez, Reymart Quiambao, Michael Lulu y Macalino, Rowel Lusung y Guinto, Lester Lulu y Canlas, and Berting Lulu y Pineda.
Seized from the suspects were e-sabong paraphernalia including one C25Y Realme Cellular Phone, one 49-inch TCL Andriod TV, and P33,000 in different denominations.
“PRO3 continues to launch operations against illegal gambling and strictly imposes the full force of the law especially on online cockfighting since it is still suspended,” Central Luzon police director Brig. Gen. Cesar T. Pasiwen said.
The suspects will face charges for violation of Presidential Decree No. 1602 or Anti-illegal Gambling Law.
It can be recalled that then-President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the stoppage of all online cockfighting operations in the wake of public outcry over its “pernicious effects to society.”
Reports of suicides and kidnappings over unpaid debts owing to heavy betting, broken families, and the youth corrupted by the gambling form led up to Duterte’s decision.
Earlier, at the sidelight of an official engagement of Duterte at the Clark Freeport, Pampanga Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda personally appealed to the president to stop e-sabong.
