Caloocan barangay execs tagged in tupada surrender

MANILA, Philippines — A barangay chairman and three councilmen in Caloocan who reportedly led a “tupada” or illegal cockfighting at the Manila North Cemetery surrendered to authorities on Saturday night.

Barangay 129 chairman Brix John Rolly Reyes along with councilmen Alfie Lacson, Romualdo Reyes and John Cris Domingo were presented to Manila Mayor Isko Moreno by Caloocan police chief Col. Dario Menor hours after the suspects yielded to Mayor Oscar Malapitan.

The suspects were turned over to the Manila Police District (MPD).

A video posted on Facebook showing the barangay officials holding tupada in the cemetery went viral on social media on Friday.

Members of the MPD Special Mayor’s Reaction Team led by Maj. Rosalino Ibay Jr. raided the tupada. But Reyes and his colleagues managed to escape.

Ibay said they received information that illegal cockfighting happened every day in the cemetery.

The Manila North Cemetery is situated in the borders of Caloocan, Manila and Quezon City.

During a confrontation with Moreno, the barangay officials apologized to the mayor and vowed not to repeat the offense.

Moreno ordered the filing of charges of illegal gambling, resistance and disobedience to persons in authority as well as violation of Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan Act and RA 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Event of Public Health Concern Act against the suspects.

Malapitan yesterday ordered the preventive suspension of the barangay officials.

He said charges of grave misconduct, gross neglect or dereliction of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service were filed against the suspects.

“The criminal aspect of the case is under the jurisdiction of the MPD, which conducted the raid,” Malapitan said.

He added that Moreno’s visit to Barangay 129 in a vehicle complete with a public address system to convince Reyes to surrender was coordinated with his office.