THE PNP regional and provincial offices are set to file charges against Sixth District Board Member Salvador Perez Jr. for threatening the chief of police of San Manuel town after the police raided a reported online illegal cockfight gambling operation.

Perez and his kin barged into the town police station shortly after the 9 a.m. police raid conducted in Sitio Casantiagoan, Barangay Gueset in San Manuel town to confront him and protest the raid that led to the arrest of 10 persons from Dagupan City, Batangas, Las Pinas, Tarlac and Cavite.

Perez reportedly threatened and hurled expletives against P/Major Benjamin Zarate, chief of police of San Manuel, at the police station after learning about the anti-gambling operation conducted by elements of the San Manuel Police, the 2nd Provincial Police Mobile Force Company and the Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPPO).

Perez was reportedly accompanied by his brother Honey Boy Perez, San Manuel Municipal Mayor Marco Perez and their father, former Vice Mayor Salvador Perez Sr.

After the discussion and before leaving the police station, Board Member Perez reportedly shouted expletives at Zarate for refusing to compromise.

Arrested in that raid were Edmund Cayabyab, 24; Prince Charles Jimenez, both construction workers and residents of Bolosan, Dagupan City; Ojano Ollero, 24, caretaker, of Barangay Arzadon, San Manuel; Vhincent Ebano, 24, caretaker, of San Jose, Batangas; Joel Folvos, 58, handler, of Barangay BF, Las Pinas City; Kelvin Natividad, 23; and Eduard Lumague, 74, of Barangay Abagon, San Jose, Tarlac.

Confiscated were 50 live fighting cocks, 10 dead chicken, four electronic weighing scales, one video camera, one video monitor, one computer keyboard; 18 pieces of wooden folded cage.

The Pangasinan Police Provincial Office, in a press statement, clarified that the illegal online cockfighting was done at the residence of one Salvador Balveran Sr., an engineer, adding that the police acted on the information provided by a concerned citizen.

Balveran voluntarily surrendered at the San Manuel Police Station on August 11.

Zarate said the suspects were charged for violation of P.D. 162 (Anti-gambling law) and had posted bail bonds.

Because of the threat aired by Perez, P/Col, Redrico Maranan, police provincial director, beefed up the San Manuel Police Station personnel, and two PNP lawyers were sent by PNP Regional Director Rodolfo Azurin Jr., police regional director, to assist in the filing a case against the provincial board member.

Efforts of The PUNCH to obtain the side of Perez on the matter proved futile. (Leonardo Micua)

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