• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Police are investigating whether Negros Occidental Third District Board Member Andrew Montelibano has any connection to a multi-million illegal online cockfighting (e-sabong) operation, which was uncovered during a manhunt operation of a most wanted person at Hacienda Pilar in Barangay Alicante, E.B. Magalona on Wednesday, July 8.
PBrig. Gen. Romano Cardiño, acting director of Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region, said that authorities will enforce the law impartially regardless of a person’s position.
“No one is above the law. We will enforce the law impartially and without fear or favor,” Cardiño said in a press conference on Thursday, July 9.
The operation was originally launched to serve an arrest warrant against alias “Ronil,” the region’s most wanted person for murder and frustrated murder.
However, operatives instead stumbled upon what authorities described as an active e-sabong operation.
Cardiño said four suspects were caught in the act inside the e-sabong studio while holding fighting cocks.
Several other individuals managed to flee through an exit at the back of the compound, including alias “Ronil”.
He initially identified three alleged operators only by their aliases— Kim, Eric and Kano —whose identities are still being established.
Based on intelligence information, Cardiño said the three individuals are allegedly connected to Montelibano, who has been categorized as a person of interest in the investigation.
However, Cardiño emphasized that such information remains subject to validation.
He explained that operatives saw Montelibano within the compound during the operation but did not arrest him because he was not the target of the raid and there was no immediate evidence linking him to the illegal cockfighting activities.
Cardiño clarified that Montelibano was seen within the property, but not inside the e-sabong studio nor in the act of participating in the cockfights.
“He was in the vicinity of the compound, near the online sabong operations. That alone is not sufficient to establish his participation,” Cardiño added.
The five-hectare property where the e-sabong operation was conducted is allegedly owned by Montelibano, he said.
Cardiño said he has directed the chief of police of E.B. Magalona to coordinate with the municipal assessor’s office to determine ownership of the five-hectare property.
“At this point, we are not confirming that the property is owned by Board Member Montelibano. That is still subject to validation,” he said.
Montelibano, chairperson of the Provincial Board committee on games and amusement, reportedly denied any involvement when he spoke with operatives, claiming that the property had been rented out, Cardiño said.
He also confirmed that Montelibano will be invited to explain his presence at the compound and shed light on the matter.
“If evidence later shows that he owns the property and knowingly allowed the illegal operation, appropriate charges may be filed. We will determine whether he can be held liable as the maintainer or protector of the operation,” Cardiño said.
Inside the compound, operatives discovered a well-organized e-sabong studio equipped with a LED wall, computers, and other electronic equipment used for online cockfighting broadcasts.
Police also recovered numerous steel gaffs, live fighting cocks waiting for scheduled matches, 162 alive fighting cocks, and 106 carcasses of gamefowls.
The compound, located nearly seven kilometers from the national highway, is surrounded by fishponds and sugarcane fields, making access difficult for law enforcement personnel.
“The area is very remote, with rough roads. It was a challenge for our operatives, which caused some delay in reaching the site,” Cardiño said.
Based on their initial assessment, police believe the operation had been running for a considerable period.
“The facilities appear to have been used for quite some time. There were spider webs inside the studio, which suggests the operation may have been running for about a year,” Cardiño said.
The Anti-Crime Cyber Unit has been tasked to conduct forensic examinations of the seized computers and other electronic devices to determine the full extent of the operation and identify other individuals involved.
Cardiño likewise ordered an inquiry into whether there were lapses on the part of the E.B. Magalona Municipal Police Station, whose chief admitted they had no prior knowledge of the illegal operation due to the remoteness of the area.
Meanwhile, the local government of E.B. Magalona issued a statement, saying it would allow authorities to complete their investigation.
“We entrust everything to our competent authorities to handle this matter. Let the investigation take its course. Rest assured that whatever the outcome, we will respect it. We will support the authorities in the interest of public welfare and safety,” it added. | GPB
