By Rey Anthony Chiu
PIA - Bohol
Arguing mainly on the police mandate to enforce the law, Bohol Provincial Police Director Edgardo Ingking said has sympathies for the mayors affected by the crackdown on illegal cockpit operations but he hints, there’s nothing he can do.
While airing his sympathy for local chief executive who may be caught in the crossfire between an ultimatum to stop illegal cockfights and the pending resolution of cases haled in court, PSSupt Ingking said unless there is an amendment on the law, then that’s when they stop the crackdown.
Ingking met the mayors at the recent League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Bohol Chapter meeting in Talibon Wednesday, January 9 to coordinate with the mayors on the government drive to curb illegal gambling.
Governor Erico Aumentado has issued Executive Order 02-A-01 pegging the ultimatum for illegal cockfights until January 1 of this year. The order was based on PD 44 or the Cockfighting law of 1974.
By the law, cockfights can only be permitted during Sundays, legal holiday and fiestas including fairs.
An earlier executive order, issued years back however sowed doubts on the serious intent of curbing illegal gambling here in Bohol.
During the past week, police upon orders of PD Ingking conducted raids on cockfights held even in accredited arenas when it was not done according to PD 449. The raids consequently irked aficionados and even mayors who earlier granted permits as per approved town council ordinance.
The raids have also pushed Sierra Bullones Mayor Simplicio Maestrado to assume that it is selective persecution while citing that other towns with cockfighting schedules contradicting PD 449 were not hit.
Speaking candidly about the issue, PSSUPt Ingking admitted that several of his men in the towns reported pressure, so they could not enforce the mandate as effectively.
Ingking explained that during a command conference before starting the crackdown, he has instructed his men to notify him of any pressure so he could be advised. His town chiefs however did not advise him of the local situation.
Going further, he said “just because others were not raided all the same is not a reason for mayors or afficinados to get the perception of selective persecution.
LMP-Bohol President Mayor Exuperio Lloren said he called for the police director to the biannual mayor’s gab in efforts to come up with a better coordination between the police and the local government units.
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Topic: Sympathies from the Bohol Police Chief (Read 1210 times)