Two men hurt in Carreta cockfight raid

CEBU, Philippines - Two men landed at the hospital after they sustained injuries while trying to elude arrest during a police raid against the illegal cockfighting activity near the Carreta Cemetery yesterday afternoon.

Ernesto Villamor, 50, of Sitio Gil Tudtud, Barangay Mabolo had his left leg broken while Alexander Curaraton, 42, of Sitio Cahipa, Barangay Hipodromo sustained injury in his left sole when they leaped off from a 20-foot fence in fear that raiding policemen would arrest them.

The two were among the estimated 100 people who scampered away from the cockpit arena when policemen from the Cebu Investigation and Detective Management Branch led by Chief Insp. George Ylanan came to respond to a call from a concerned citizen.

The incident happened around 2:30 p.m. yesterday, some three meters away from the back of the cemetery.

The CIDMB, together with some personnel of the Mobile Patrol Group and Waterfront Police Station, went to the area to supposedly disperse more than a hundred people who are allegedly rowdy while watching the cockfight.

In a report over DYHP, authorities said the said cockfight, locally known as “tigbakay,” had no permit from the barangay because the activity is only permitted during fiesta celebrations.

When the policemen came, the people inside the arena reportedly scampered away to elude arrest. Most of them were trapped in a dead end and some, including the two victims, opted to climb the fence and jumped into the 15-foot deep river.

The police confiscated a live cock and another dead cock from the arena while responding personnel from the Emergency Rescue Foundation Unit took the victims to the Cebu City Medical Center for treatment.

Majority of those who went to the cemetery to pay homage to their departed love ones, reportedly complained of the intense noise brought about by the tigbakay that prompted them to call for police assistance.

Cebu City Police Office director Patrocinio Comendador said the incident did not affect the peaceful and orderly atmosphere of the cemetery yesterday. —Niña G. Sumacot/WAB (THE FREEMAN)