2 seniors nabbed for illegal gambling

CEBU, Philippines — Two senior citizens were arrested for illegal cockfighting in Barangay Tominjao, Daanbantayan town, northern Cebu.

Elpedio Rosell, 64, and Ricardo Gastador, 66, were apprehended Saturday afternoon for violating Presidential Decree no. 1602 (illegal gambling).

Police Staff Sergeant Ramon Catubig of the Daanbantayan Police Station said cases against the gamblers will be filed today.

Catubig said there was a horde of ‘sabongeros,’ but many scampered to different directions upon seeing the police operatives.

He said they have identified some of those who eluded arrest. A separate operation will be hatched to apprehend them.

Aside from PD 1602, the suspects also violated the quarantine protocols.

Public/mass gatherings such as but not limited to cockfighting events and other entertainment activities are not allowed in this time of pandemic.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, in her 17-page Executive Order (EO) 20 which took effect on July 10, has prohibited all forms of gambling and fiesta celebrations.

Cebu province is under the less stringent modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).

Also, the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) guidelines provide that the movement of all persons in areas placed under MGCQ shall be limited to accessing essential goods and services, for work in the offices or industries permitted to operate and for other allowed activities.

Meanwhile, a man possessing a grenade, drugs and a knife was arrested by authorities during their afternoon patrol yesterday afternoon in Sitio Alimango, Barangay Cantabaco, Toledo City, midwest Cebu.

The second Provincial Mobile Force Company, in a report, said the cops spotted the half-naked suspect holding a grenade while talking to bystanders.

The suspect, 47-year-old Alan Gacho, also had a bladed weapon tucked in his waist.

A pack of shabu weighing 0.06 grams was also recovered from Gacho, who is now detained at the police station. KQD (FREEMAN)