The First Provincial Mobile Force Company arrest 53 men caught engaging in illegal cockfighting activity or tigbakay on Saturday, June 29, 2020 in Sitio Esi, Barangay Kal-anan, Tabogon, Cebu.| CONTRIBUTED PHOTO — Police Lt. Col. Randy Korret
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The barangay and municipal fficials of Cebu Province should help monitor and implement the “No tigbakay and no fiesta celebration” policy despite the downgrading of the province’s quarantine status to modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
Police Colonel Roderick Mariano, Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) chief, told reporters that it would be important for the officials in barangays and municipalities to be able to monitor in their areas, those who would continue to violate the prohibition on illegal gambling as it would fall under the rule on the prohibition of mass gathering.
“Pagka alam nila na hindi naman dapat gawin lalo na ang tigbakay, sila na mismo ang magsasaway. Once kasi na makarating sa atin yan at nahuli pa natin, talagang kakasohan natin yung mga barangay officials na kakasakop,” said Mariano.
(Since they know that illegal cockfighting or tigbakay is prohibited, then they should be the one to stop those kinds of activities in their barangay. Once we receive reports and apprehend those involved in illegal cockfighting, we will include in the filing of cases the officials of that barangay.)
For the past weeks, several individuals around Cebu province were arrested for participating in illegal gambling like “tigabakay”.
Read: 53 men caught engaging in ‘tigbakay’ in Tabogon, Cebu
Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia also recently warned the barangay officials of being held accountable once illegal gambling activities like tigbakay would be monitored in their areas.
Read: Gwen warns brgy chiefs: Don’t allow ‘tigbakay’ under your watch
Mariano also asked the officials to be mindful of the fiesta celebrations in their area as it would still not be allowed until today.
“Bawal pa yun, alam naman ng mga barangay officials natin yan, alam ng mayors natin yan at hindi nila papayagan if it will violate the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) guidelines,” said Mariano.
(Those activities are prohibited and the barangay officials and the mayors know these and they should stop these activities if it will violate the IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force] guidelines.)/dbs