A HARDWORKING Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos has refused to ‘glorify’ the accusations hurled against him by Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo ‘Arnie’ Teves Jr. and instead would prefer to do his job, overseeing continuing reforms in the police force and other agencies under him and seeing to it that there will be a massive crackdown against the banned e-Sabong.

The DILG chief even described as ‘preposterous’ the charges made against him by the lawmaker from Negros Oriental. “I do not want to glorify that statement by answering it. it is a preposterous accusation,” I heard him telling a journalist during a Camp Crame press conference.

“I have never had that issue in my whole life. Sinabi ko nga ‘yung pagkatao ko na lang yung mag-aano sa akin. It is a preposterous accusation,” he added. Prior to that, Teves linked the DILG chief to an alleged police effort to secure a search warrant on his residence and ‘plant’ evidence’ if nothing illegal is found.

I just shook my head after hearing that. Under a new administration, I can’t imagine a police officer worth his salt doing such thing, going after a moneyed and influential lawmaker without risking his career.

While Teves claimed that he is being linked to illegal e-Sabong without any proof, PNP chief, General Jun Azurin said their crackdown against the illegal online cocking game operations will continue to be unrelenting this year even as he called on the public to stop patronizing the banned online game.

Without naming names, the top cop said that they are vigorously implementing Executive Order No. 9 issued by President Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. which ordered the continued suspension of e-Sabong activities nationwide.

Gen. Azurin said that ahead of the grand Sinulog festival in Cebu over the weekend, agents of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Region 7. arrested 17 persons in Barangay Ibo, Lapu-Lapu City last Friday afternoon while in the act of engaging in illegal cockfight games which was streamed live thru mobile phone apps.

Last January 9, another suspected e-Sebong operator was arrested in Bgy. Bugho in San Fernando, Cebu by operatives of the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 7 under Brig. Gen. Joel Doria and the Police Regional Office 7 headed by Brig. Gen. Jerry Bearis.

The top PNP official said that seven other suspects involved in that e-Sabong operation eluded arrest and are still being hunted. The arresting team seized various electronic equipment used in the livestreaming of cockfight games, and cash bets.

I learned that the raided cockpit joint plays around 200 cockfighting games being beamed on Facebook daily. This after Donn Caballero, a 23-year old resident of Barangay Lagtang in Talisay City, Cebu spilled the beans on their illegal activities following his arrest in an entrapment operation in the mountainous part of Bgy. Bugho.

During investigation, the suspect confessed that their online cockfighting or e-Sabong starts at 5 in the morning and ends at dawn of the following day.The suspect said they hold at least 200 cockfights everyday with him tasked to hold the fighting cock while being fitted with ‘tari’ or a cockfighting blade by a ‘gaffer’ who is an expert in the art of arming fighting cocks with gaff or gaffs on either or both legs.

Recovered during the operation were Information and Communications Technology (ICT) equipment such as cameras, sets of system unit, 28 dead fighting cocks, 28 severely wounded roosters, assorted identification cards, several gaffs and ties and P528 in different denominations.

However, the persons behind the operations of the raided e-Sabong joint are yet to be identified as of press time by the PRO7. Gen. Azurin said that Sec. Azurin has formed a multi-agency to enforce the presidential directive.

He explained that although police are on the enforcement side, it still needs the help of the Department of Information Communications Technology, the National Telecommunications Commission and the barangay officials in identifying operators of the banned online game since the game is very unlike the ordinary ‘sabong or tupada.’

For one, it uses technology which has alarmed no less than PBBM since everybody, even children and other minors, here and abroad can bet on the game by just using their cellphones. “No less than the President is alarmed on the existence of these e-Sabong, wala na kasing pinipili na tumataya because of technology. Lahat puwede nang tumaya unlike sa sabong na bawal pumasok sa cockpit arenas ang mga minors,” Gen. Azurin said.

Gen. Azurin asked Filipinos to stop patronizing e-Sabong since they would only become poorer and help their operators become more richer. True, very true.

GODSPEED MAYOR MAYA CARAMAT

ON a personal note, my family and I would like to offer our deepest prayers and sympathies to the family of the late well-loved Calasiao, Pangasinan Mayor Mamylyn ‘Maya’ Agustin-Caramat who is set to be laid to her final resting place today. Godspeed Mayora.

Last Saturday, my wife Candy and I traveled to Calasiao from Antipolo City to personally condole with the mayor’s family led by a good friend, Brigadier General Romeo ‘Bong’ Caramat, a member of PMA ‘Tanglaw-Diwa’ Class of 1992 who was named as the new PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director vice his mistah, Brig. Gen. Ronald Lee last January 9, just hours before his wife passed away.

We found out that indeed, the Pangasinan province in general and the people of Calasiao in particular really loved the 52-year old mayor as evidenced by the hundreds of people from all walks of life lining up to pay their last respect to her at the family residence in Barangay Nalcian. Many told me people are coming in droves since the start of her wake.

The late official used to be the Bgy. Nalcian chairperson for three years until she made history last May when she became the 160th and 1st female mayor of Calasiao. Tributes have poured and have been pouring for the departed mayor who, in a span of six months made true her campaign promise to work for the good of her constituents.

I saw some people crying as they remembered the good mayor, her many infrastructure projects, compassion for the poor and the needy, her full respect for the rights of the people, the PWDs and the LGBTQ included, her promotion of ‘Puto Calasiao’ and their unforgettable 2022 Christmas Party. Many in the big audience were also tear-eyed as the mayor’s many videos were played in front of them.

Good governance is what she has brought to the people of Bgy. Nalcian and later Calasiao and am sure that residents of the 1st-class municipality in Pangasinan with a booming economy won’t forget her.

With great sadness, we extend our deepest condolences to Brig. Gen. Caramat, their two children and the rest of the Agustin-Caramat family. Indeed, our short stay in Calasiao proved that people really loved the Agustin-Caramat family and the ‘Mayora’ who really showed her passion, dedication and hard work as a genuine public servant.

I am sharing these prayers to them: “Bless those who mourn, eternal God, with the comfort of your love that they may face each new day with hope and the certainty that nothing can destroy the good that has been given. May their memories become joyful, their days enriched with friendship, and their lives encircled by your love.”