4 spider fight bettors nabbed in Batangas

It wasn’t the spiders. It was the gambling.

Lian Municipal Police Station together with the personnel from RSOU RID PRO4A conducted operation against illegal gambling and arrested four men placing bets on spider combat at Brgy. Matabungkay, Lian, Batangas on Monday, July. 31.

The Suspects identified as Jake Arroyo, Elson Canteras, Venancio Tabita and Jomark Casanova all construction workers and all resident of Calaca, Batangas.

Seized from them were seventeen (17) pieces of spider, three (3) box cage for spider, three (3) pieces of bamboo stick used for spider fighting and betting money amounting to one thousand three hundred pesos (Php1300.00).

Spiders, which were confiscated, are now in the custody of this station to be used as evidence in court. After being presented in court, it will be released into the wild.

The suspects will be facing criminal charges for violation of Presidential Decree 1602, the law that provides penalties for illegal gambling activities signed into law by then-President Ferdinand Marcos in 1978.

“Gambling sets a bad example for children, spider fighting as a pastime is not unlawful, and it only becomes illegal if it involves placing bets. If there is what we call ‘gateway drugs,’ there is also ‘gateway gambling vice.’ These people encourage gambling among kids particularly those who are fond of spiders,”- Police Colonel Samson B. Belmonte, Batangas Police Provincial Director said.