Five government officials, four policemen and a soldier were collared by police intelligence operatives while betting in an illegal online cockfighting game at a restaurant in Bulacan Friday afternoon.
Initial reports from the office of CITF chief Sr. Supt Jose Chiquito Malayo said they caught the government officials and lawmen inside the Globaliwag Restaurant in Baliwag operating an illegal online cockfighting at about 9:45 p.m.
The CITF identified the four policemen as PO3 Nolasco Bernardo Juan, assigned in Camp Olivas; PO1 Jestoni Gonzales Fuentebella of the Bulacan Police Mobile Force Company; PO1 Jeffrey Mateo from Angat Municipal Police Station; and PO1 Emmanuel Leonardo and Army soldier Private First Class Enrique Quinaquin.
The arrested policemen and the soldier were brought to Camp Crame for investigation.
The CITF, however, did not identify the five government officials and their respective positions and areas of assignment.
Reports said the government officials were brought to an undisclosed police facility to undergo investigation.
The CITF operations also led to the arrest of 139 civilians betting inside the illegal online cockfighting.
The owner of the Globaliwag Restaurant identified as Enecito Dahan Payapaya was taken by CITF operatives and is presently under the custody of the Anti-Crime Group.
PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa has issued a stern warning to policemen from entering gambling places and casinos and similar establishments, and from engaging in criminal activities particularly in illegal drugs.
Last year, the CITF has arrested dozens of policemen engaged in illegal activities such as gambling and illegal drugs.
Over a hundred policemen found guilty of administrative offenses were dismissed from the police service while thousand other policemen are being investigated for numerous offenses.
The CITF was created to go after erring policemen and police officers involved in various illegal acts.