Negros Occidental Board Member Andrew Montelibano has been named a “person of interest” following the discovery of a multi-million peso illegal online cockfighting (e-sabong) operation located on his alleged property in E.B. Magalona town, Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño, Negros Island Region (NIR) police regional director, said Thursday, July 9.
A police manhunt operation against Ronnel Garde, who is wanted for murder and frustrated murder, led to the discovery of the alleged e-sabong operations and the arrest of four individuals in Hacienda Pilar, Barangay Alicante, E.B. Magalona on Wednesday evening, Cardiño said at a press conference.
The police are investigating Montelibano’s alleged ownership of the property where the e-sabong operation was discovered and his presence in the vicinity during the police operation, Cardiño said.
The Police Regional Office NIR is also evaluating reports that the board member allegedly “provided inaccurate information to the operating teams during the conduct of the operation.”
The suspected operators of the e-sabong are alias Kim, alias Cano, and alias Eric, who are the subjects of ongoing police operations, he said.
Based on their initial investigation, they are connected to Montelibano, Cardiño said.
The investigation is ongoing and no conclusion will be drawn unless supported by evidence, he said.
The PRO NIR investigation will not be influenced by position, affiliation, or status, Cardiño added.
“We will enforce the law without fear or favor. No one is above the law as long as we have evidence,” Cardiño said.
BOARD MEMBER ANSWERS
Montelibano told DIGICAST NEGROS perhaps he was considered a person of interest because the e-sabong operation was discovered on his family corporation’s property.
However, Montelibano said he was not aware that e-sabong operations were happening on his property and he is not part of that business.
He said a certain Ricky, whom he has never met, rented the property through their office to be used as a conditioning area for fighting cocks.
Montelibano said when he arrived on Wednesday and saw the police, they told him that they were conducting a hot pursuit of someone on the property.
He did not stop the police or ask for a search warrant, he said.
Montelibano said he is happy that the e-sabong operation was discovered because it is a victory for the cockfighting industry, and he is willing to help in any investigation.
“I am here to cooperate,” Montelibano said, adding that he hopes the police apprehend the persons behind the e-sabong operations.
“I thank the PNP for doing something about our fight against online gambling,” he added.
Cardiño said Montelibano will have to prove that the property was leased out.
Montelibano will also be invited to shed light on the matter, Cardiño added.
He needs to explain his presence in the area, Cardiño said, noting that Montelibano heads the Games and Amusement Board of the province.
FOUR ARRESTED
The police operation was launched after law enforcement authorities received information that a wanted person was allegedly hiding inside the farm, Cardiño said.
The police then chanced upon the ongoing illegal e-sabong operations and arrested persons identified only as “JG,” 40; “FD,” 38; “RL,” 36; and alias “EC,” 29, he said. Others were able to escape, he said.
The suspects were allegedly caught engaging in e-sabong betting and failed to present any legal documents authorizing them to conduct such activity.
It is a well-organized operation with LED walls and computers, Cardiño said.
Recovered during the operation were 142 live fighting cocks, 106 dead fighting cocks, 156 gaffs, two camera stands, and two television monitors, all believed to have been used in the conduct of the illegal online gambling operation, a police report said.
Charges for violation of Presidential Decree No. 1602, as amended by Republic Act No. 9287 (Illegal Gambling), in relation to Republic Act No. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012), are being prepared against the suspects, who are now detained at the E.B. Magalona Municipal Police Station.
There are continuing efforts to locate the wanted person who was the subject of the original manhunt operation, Cardiño said.
Cardiño lauded the police units for the successful operation and emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration in addressing illegal gambling activities in the region.
“I commend our operating units for their successful and well-coordinated operation against illegal online sabong. This accomplishment demonstrates the importance of relentlessly pursuing wanted persons while remaining vigilant against other forms of criminality,” he said.*
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