E-sabong worker nabbed while ‘answering a call of nature’ (Latest Sabong News)
AN ONLINE cockfighting (e-sabong) employee fell to authorities while he was answering the call of nature in the mountain barangay of Bugho in San Fernando town, southern Cebu around 7:30 a.m. Monday, January 9, 2023.
Don Cesar Caballero, 22, with live-in partner and a resident of Barangay Lagtang, Talisay City, was handcuffed by the police, while his seven other companions eluded arrest.
Caballero was not able to escape as he was defecating inside the toilet when policemen arrived.
"Nalibang man ko ato dihang naabot ang mga police. Wala nako makadagan, wala gani ko kapangilo," Caballero said in an interview with SunStar Cebu.
(I was defecating when the police arrived. I was not able to run, I did not even wipe my anus.)
Caballero said he has been working with a farm for already a week, receiving a salary of P500 per day.
He said he knew that e-sabong is illegal, but this is the only job he could find to support the needs of his family, including his six-month-old baby.
He said his job is to hold the rooster while it is fitted with cockfighting blade.
Caballero said the cockfighting starts at 5 a.m. and ends at dawn of the following day.
He said they can make at least 200 cockfights every day.
Colonel Fidel Fortaleza Jr., chief of the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit-Central Visayas (RACU 7), headed the operation along with the operatives of the Regional Intelligence Division, Regional Mobile Force Battalion and the Provincial Intelligence Unit of San Fernando Police Station.
Fortaleza said they traced the location of the gambling hideout based on the information that they received.
He said they are still conducting an investigation to identify the persons behind the illegal activity, which uses Information and Communications Technology (ICT) equipment in their operation and where players may log in to DS88.live, goperya.com websites to place their bets.
Seized during the raid were cameras, 128 live fighting cocks, 28 dead roosters, bet money, computers and other ICT equipment.
Caballero will be facing charges for violation of Presidential Decree (PD) 449 (Illegal Cockfighting) and PD 1602 (Illegal Gambling).
