Alleged owner of cockpit to be subjected to probe

CEBU, Philippines – The alleged owner of the cockpit arena in barangay Talamban that was burned down by police during a raid last week is now in hot water.

Cebu City Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador yesterday ordered a background check of Rico Dionson to determine if he is indeed a member of the Barangay Intelligence Network and an asset of the city police.

Comendador said if proven to be both, Dionson can be dismissed from service and may even face charges for compromising the law by engaging in illegal activities such as running a cockpit arena.

Comendador emphasized there would be nothing personal about the possible filing of a case against Dionson, as even Talamban barangay captain Alvin Arcilla and other officials of the barangay who sent the complaint to CCPO were merely doing their job. 

Authorities just act accordingly if there are persistent reports from the public, he said.

Comendador explained that once a complaint is received, a warning is first given to the operator of the cockpit, and if not heeded, the structure would be destroyed through the Squatters Prevention, Encroachment, and Elimination Division. The last resort would be to burn the fences.

Dionson, owner of Rico’s Lechon located in the area, admitted he actively joined the betting during cockfights, but denied he was the one organizing it.

He said he does not question the burning of the cockpit because it was illegal but said the act of policemen to burn the tables and chairs of the stores nearby was conduct unbecoming of police operatives.

Dionson said this reportedly happened after the police discovered that the tires of their two patrol cars were damaged.

The city police chief said that last Thursday's operation in Talamban was not the first time a raid was conducted on an illegal cockpit. He said it is insulting that the police do their job but the illegal activities just keep on coming back.

Asked to comment on reports of Dionson allegedly giving lechon to some police officers, Comendador said the same is a personal prerogative but Dionson should not expect favors from the part of the police.

“It is already the prerogative of Dionson whether or not to give lechon or any type of favor for that matter to our police officials but he should not expect a return for that. That will not stand in the way of our enforcement of the law,” Comendador said.

Meanwhile, Atty. Noel Archival, lawyer of store owners Elena Jaime, Emmanuel Seno and Narciso Cuesta whose tables and chairs were also burned down, agreed to no longer file a case against the Special Weapons and Tactics, Mobile Patrol Group, and the miscellaneous team from the Talamban Police Station, and the police station chief Ryan Devaras.

Archival said his clients understand that the authorities said the act of torching the stores was “done in good faith,” and that the police might just have been “too eager” to enforce the law.

“Nasobraan ang ila eagerness,” Archival said.

Archival also clarified that the decision to shelve the charges was not triggered by intimidation by the police. – Niña G. Sumacot/JMO (THE FREEMAN)