FOUR farmers, one is a 71-year-old grandfather, and a backhoe operator were arrested by authorities for illegal cockfighting in separate operations in Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon last Sunday.
Police Col. Raniel Valones, Provincial Police Director of Misamis Oriental, identified the farmers as Ignacio Tagupa, 71, farmer, a resident of Zone 2, Reynaldo Magnayon, 55, Edmondo Matogina, 58, and Alex Yamit, Jr., 32, all residing at Purok Waling-Waling, Barangay Tagpako, Gingoog City of the said province.
Valones said all the suspects were arrested during a surprised raid by elements of Gingoog City Police Station (GCPS) led by Police Mitchel Clemencio together with Personnel of 1001st Maneuver Company, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 10 (RMFB 10) while in the act of conducting illegal gambling known as "tari-tari" at 3 pm at the said barangay.
While the backhoe operator, identified as Nilo Mahinay, 34, a resident of Zone 1 Barangay Nicdao, Baungon, Bukidnon was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest at 8 am in his residence for the same offense
He was arrested by members of the Baungon Municipal Police Station led by Police Lt. Lance Elpedio Figuracion at 8 am.
Judge Hazel Perez, Presiding Judge of Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC), 10th Judicial Region, Talakag-Malitbog-Baungon, Bukidnon, recommended the suspect a bail bond at P15,000 for his temporary liberty.
All the arrested persons are now temporarily detained at their respective police jail facilities.
