Cops, gov’t employees nabbed in cockfight

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Police counter-intelligence operatives arrested three fellow lawmen and two government employees allegedly engaged in illegal cockfighting in Bulacan on Sunday.

Members of the Counter-Intelligence Task Force (CITF) and Philippine National Police-Intelligence Group collared the suspects in an operation at about 10 a.m. inside Heroesville Subdivision, Barangay Gaya-Gaya, in San Jose Del Monte City.

A police spot report identified those arrested as Police Officer (PO) 2 Michael Somido of the National Capital Region Police Office-Presidential PNP Security Force Unit; PO1 Raymond Meneses of the Caloocan City Police; and PO1 Rhovel Araceli of the Northern Police District-District Public Safety Battalion.

Policemen also arrested Albert Delos Reyes, a traffic aide in San Jose Del Monte City; Almelito Bascon, an employee at the Bulacan Sangguniang Panlalawigan; and Rodrigo Gojo Cruz who served as bet collector.

Authorities recovered several gaff or “tari” from Araceli, who served as a gaffer.

Lawmen confiscated the service pistols of Somido and Meneses and seized five fighting cocks.

The suspects are now under the custody of the CITF for documentation and filing of appropriate criminal and administrative cases. /cbb