A police major has been placed under custody as authorities investigate his alleged involvement in protecting illegal online cockfighting operations in Negros Occidental.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla said Maj. Edgar Tonico is under preventive custody at a Philippine National Police (PNP) facility in the Negros Island Region while a case is being built against him.
Tonico was previously assigned to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Bacolod City before being relieved from his post.
Remulla said the officer is being linked to illegal e-sabong activities and is reportedly associated with fugitive businessman Charlie Ang, also known as “Atong” Ang, who faces arrest warrants in connection with the case of missing sabungeros.
He said Tonico is undergoing pre-charge investigation for his alleged role in protecting an e-sabong hub raided by CIDG operatives in Talisay City on April 22.
The raid on an operation identified as the “World Cockfighting Cup” in Barangay Concepcion led to the arrest of 30 individuals and the rescue of two alleged human trafficking victims.
Remulla said the facility was reportedly broadcasting around 50 cockfights daily, with bets reaching an estimated P5 million.
“This is a big e-sabong operation,” he said.
He also alleged that Tonico misled law enforcement personnel during follow-up operations and described him as the alleged “protector” of the illegal activity.
Remulla added that Tonico and other individuals, including one identified as Don Robert, were linked to Ang during the height of the e-sabong industry from 2020 to 2022.
Authorities said it remains unclear whether Ang has direct involvement in the recently raided facility.
The CIDG confirmed that Tonico was relieved from his post on the day of the raid.
Remulla earlier offered a P20 million reward for information leading to Ang’s arrest, describing him as one of the country’s most wanted fugitives in connection with the missing sabungeros case.