ELEMENTS of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested 69 men, including two barangay captains, inside a cockpit arena in Barangay Malayo, Urbiztondo town on Feb. 22 for alleged illegal cockfighting.

P/Lt. Col. Bernouli Abalos, CIDG Pangasinan provincial chief, said while the province is already under Alert Level 2 due to COVID-19 “we can have cockfighting activities provided we follow IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) protocols, Local Government Code guidelines like securing permits and from the Games and Amusement Board of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation”.

Abalos said if documents allowing the cockfighting are not complete, “it is illegal per se”.

Under Presidential Decree 449, Section 5, Paragraph B, cockfighting in cockpit arena is allowed during Saturdays and Sundays and special holidays. “If it’s held on a weekday, it needs a special permit,” he said.

Abalos declined to identify the names of the two barangay captains arrested.

The CIDG was filing the charges on Feb. 23 noontime at the Prosecutor’s Office in San Carlos City when The PUNCH sought an update about the incident. (Eva Visperas)

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