22 men held for tupada in Nueva Ecija
CABANATUAN CITY — At least 22 persons on Sunday were arrested for illegal cockfighting or tupada operations during separate anti-illegal gambling raids conducted in Nueva Ecija.
In his report to Police Regional Office 3 director Brig. Gen. Matthew Baccay, provincial police head Col. Jess Mendez said the successive anti-illegal gambling operations were conducted in “tupada havens” in the towns of Talavera, Penaranda, General Tinio, Jaen and in Gapan City.
In Gapan City, police led by Lt. Col. Alexie Desamito raided an alleged tupada den in Bgy. San Lorenzo, which resulted in the arrest of seven persons identified as Lyrrad Lanorio, 34, a salesman; Edrian Barlis, 28, a slipper maker, both of Bgy. Pambuan; Jonathan Jimenez, 33, a businessman, of Bgy. Mangino; Jerry Ongpauco, 48, a security guard; Rogelio Berza, 48, a slipper maker, both of Bgy. San Lorenzo; Rolando Guinto, 62, a tricycle driver, of Bgy. Sto. Cristo Norte; and Joel Hernandez, 38, a farmer, of Bgy. Nieves, San Leonardo.
Desamito said the alleged operator was identified as Romeo Ongpauco alias “F4,” of Bgy. Pambuan, eluded arrest.
Seized during the operation were two live fighting cocks, two dead fighting cocks, bet money amounting to P2,120 and two pieces of gaffs.
In Talavera, police head Lt. Col. Jackyll Bilibli said five men involved in bularet operations were nabbed in Bgy. Sampaloc, where police seized some P5,220 in bet money, four live fighting cocks and four pieces of gaffs.
The five arrested suspects were identified as Jomar Antonio, 30; Mario Sagnip, 56; Dennis Dela Cruz, 36; Lauro Eser Jose, 40, and Baltazar Bondoc, 52.
In Penaranda, police chief Capt. Ricardo Salomon Jr. said they dismantled the illegal cockfighting operations being held in Bgy. Sinasajan, with the arrest of four men, and the seizure of two live fighting cocks, a dead fighting cock, two gaffs and P1,100 in bet money.
Arrested were Bethoven Fajardo, 45; Jayson Busalpa, 37; Artemeo Caballero, 53, and Gary Gonzales, 46.
Also nabbed were four suspects in General Tinio and two others in Jaen during separate anti-tupada operations.
