‘Tari’ wounds, kills North Samar town cop chief during ‘tupada’ raid

TACLOBAN CITY—The chief of police of San Jose town, Northern Samar province died after accidentally cutting a wound on his thigh with a metal spur while trying to arrest suspects engaged in an illegal cockfight past 1 p.m. on Monday (Oct. 26).

Lt. Christian Bolok, 38, was brought to the Northern Samar provincial hospital in the capital, Catarman, but was pronounced dead on arrival there by doctors.

Reports reaching the regional headquarter of the Philippine National Police based in Palo town, Leyte province said Bolok, along with other policemen, went to the village of Manduyang in San Jose to check reports about an illegal cockfight, locally known as tupada.

Upon reaching the area, the policemen caught six suspects holding the tupada.

During a scuffle, however, Bolok, who assumed his post just less than a month ago, accidentally hit his left thigh with a metal spur, a sharp bladed weapon attached to cocks during cockfights locally known as tari.

Northern Samar Gov. Edwin Ongchuan has prohibited cockfights in the province after some people, who tested positive for SARS Cov2, the virus that causes COVID-19, were found to have been engaged in street cockfights.

San Jose Mayor Clarence Sato expressed shock when informed about Bolok’s death.

“It was very unfortunate that he died while performing his duty,” he said.

Seized from the suspects were seven fighting cocks, two sets of metal spurs, and cash amounting to P500.

Arrested were Dioscoro Grande, 46; Rodolfo Moreno, 65; and Vicente Medice, 81. Those who managed to escape were identified as Peter Anonuevo, Junior Romines, and Ren Ren de la Tonga.

The arrested suspects were detained at the San Jose detention facility and will be charged with violating Presidential Decree No. 449, or the cockfighting law of 1974.

TSB