Police Brigadier General Jerry Bearis
CEBU CITY, Philippines —After relentless operations against e-sabong in urban areas, police in Central Visayas noticed that e-sabong activities are now being conducted in mountain barangays.
Police Brigadier General Jerry Bearis, director of the Police Regional Office (PRO-7), made this statement after they busted a gambling operation in Barangay Bugho, San Fernando, Cebu around 7 a.m. on January 9.
During the operation, authorities nabbed a certain Donn Caezar Caballero, 23, a resident of Barangay Lagtang in Talisay City. Seven other individuals managed to escape after sensing the presence of the police.
Police also confiscated several Information and Communications Technology (ICT) equipment such as video cameras, a wi-fi router, satellite disk, transition and equalizer boxes, uninterruptible power supply, sets of system units, assorted identification cards, gapers and ties, and bet money worth P528.
Authorities also confiscated 28 dead fighting cocks and 28 severely wounded roosters.
“ (We need) to lower down the presence, nasa bundok na sila. Upon monitoring sa urban areas, negative na. They are making it sa mountain and far-flung brgys,” Bearis said.
“That’s a very big accomplishment considering that our intelligence operatives, doon sa area wala silang signal, ang strategy nila, they have a very high technology na ginagamit nila, may nakuha silang satellite disk and numerous IT equipment,” he added.
The operation was headed by the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 7 (RACU-7) along with the operatives from the Regional Intelligence Division7, Regional Mobile Force Batallion7, and Provincial Intelligence Unit of Cebu Provincial Police Office.
With this, Bearis said that they need to coordinate with the National Telecommunications Commission to go after these organizers, especially since they are now using high-tech equipment in conducting this illegal activity.
“Alinsunod sa direktiba ni SILG Atty. Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos, Jr. ukol sa E-Sabong, mas pinapaiigting po ng ating mga kapulisan ang pagsugpo ng mga lumalaganap na ilegal na pagsusugal online o e-sabong at mas mapapadali po namin ito sa pamamagitan ng patuloy na pagsuporta ng ating komunidad laban sa illegal gambling,” Bearis said. /rcg
ALSO READ:
2 E-sabong operators, 37 workers nabbed in Minglanilla
Cebu City Police: No directives yet on suspension of ‘E-sabong’