Parañaque City police apprehended on Saturday 270 individuals for playing online “sabong” (cockfight) and for failure to observe social distancing.
Prior to the suspects’ arrest, the police received information about mass gatherings inside the Roligon Mega Cockpit Arena on Quirino Avenue in Paranaque City, according to city police chief Col. Maximo Sebastian.
Sebastian said cops in the nearby police sub-station were immediately dispatched and found the 270 gamblers playing online sabong.
He said the suspects were immediately rounded up and given citation tickets for violation of the health protocols under the new quarantine alert system.
The city police chief said those who will be caught for the first offense will be fined P1,000, P3,000 second for the second offense, and P5,000 for the third offense.
Sebastian also said the management of the arena failed to show a permit to operate online sabong.
He said the owner of the arena claimed they have a permit from PAGCOR and that their online sabong was just a dry run.
The police said that under the new alert level, any form of gambling is illegal.