A sitting member of the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan is now facing both criminal and administrative complaints before the country’s primary anti-corruption body after police linked him to an alleged illegal online cockfighting operation discovered during a routine arrest operation last month.
The Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO NIR) confirmed on July 23 that formal complaints against Third District Board Member Andrew Gerard L. Montelibano were filed at the Office of the Ombudsman on July 20. The confirmation came through an official press statement signed by Regional Director Police Brigadier General Romano V. Cardiño.
How the Case Began: A Manhunt That Led to More
The sequence of events started on July 8, when PRO NIR operatives conducted a manhunt operation at Hacienda Pilar in Barangay Alicante, E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental. According to PRO NIR, the team had been serving an arrest warrant on a wanted individual when they stumbled upon what authorities identified as an active e-sabong — or illegal online cockfighting — setup operating on the premises.
The subject of the arrest warrant managed to flee and evade custody during the operation. Despite this setback, four other individuals found at the location were taken in by authorities and later charged with violating Presidential Decree No. 1602, as amended by Republic Act No. 9287, in relation to Republic Act No. 10175, otherwise known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. PRO NIR said all four underwent inquest proceedings and were subsequently released from police custody.
The complaints against Montelibano were formally lodged by PRO NIR’s Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG), which led the joint operation at the site, according to the regional police office’s statement.
Substantial Volume of Evidence Recovered at the Site
Police inventories from the July 8 operation documented a considerable amount of materials typically associated with cockfighting activity. PRO NIR reported that items seized at Hacienda Pilar included live fighting cocks, fighting cock carcasses, cockfighting blades or gaffs, camera stands, and television monitors — equipment consistent with a functioning online sabong operation.
The specific charges cited in the Ombudsman complaints against Montelibano were not disclosed by the regional police office, which said it was withholding those details to avoid interfering with the Ombudsman’s independent evaluation of the case.
Montelibano Named Person of Interest the Day After the Raid
Brigadier General Cardiño publicly identified Montelibano as a person of interest on July 9 — just one day after the operation — based on reports that the board member had been in the vicinity during the raid and on questions surrounding ownership and control of the property where the alleged facility was found.
As a sitting member of the Negros Occidental provincial board, Montelibano falls under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Ombudsman, which under the Philippine Constitution is the designated body for hearing both criminal and administrative complaints against public officials.
Board Member Denies Involvement, Vows Cooperation
At a press conference on July 10, Montelibano denied having any part in the alleged e-sabong operation. He explained that the property in question had been leased by a corporation associated with his family, and he maintained that he was unaware of any illegal online cockfighting activity being conducted on the premises.
The board member also stated that he was willing to cooperate fully with the investigation. At the same press event, Montelibano disclosed his plans to run for mayor of Murcia in the 2028 local elections — a political ambition that could be jeopardised depending on how the Ombudsman proceedings unfold.
PRO NIR Stresses Filing Is Not a Finding of Guilt
In its July 23 statement, PRO NIR was careful to clarify that the lodging and receipt of the complaints represent a procedural step in the legal process and should not be construed as an established finding of guilt against the board member.
The regional office added that it would not be releasing the specific evidence, allegations, or details contained in the complaints, explaining that the matter now rests within the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction and that premature public disclosure could compromise the integrity of the proceedings.
Cardiño’s statement read: “PRO NIR remains committed to upholding the rule of law through professional, impartial and evidence-based law enforcement while respecting the independence of the Office of the Ombudsman in the disposition of the complaints.”
Case Now Awaits Ombudsman’s Preliminary Evaluation
With the complaints formally submitted on July 20, the Office of the Ombudsman will now assess whether the evidence presented is sufficient to proceed to a full preliminary investigation. PRO NIR confirmed that no public timeline has been announced for when that evaluation will be completed.
E-sabong was banned nationwide in 2022 following a presidential order. Its alleged reappearance at a property associated with an elected official — and the subsequent filing of charges under the Cybercrime Prevention Act and anti-illegal gambling statutes — makes the Ombudsman’s determination particularly consequential.
By the Numbers
- 142 — live fighting cocks recovered at Hacienda Pilar on July 8
- 106 — fighting cock carcasses found at the site
- 156 — gaffs (cockfighting blades) seized during the operation
- 2 — camera stands recovered from the premises
- 2 — television monitors seized as evidence
- 4 — individuals arrested at the site and later released following inquest
- July 20 — date the Ombudsman complaints were formally filed by PRO NIR’s RSOG
Why This Matters
The escalation of this case to the Office of the Ombudsman is significant because it brings a sitting elected official under formal scrutiny before the Philippines’ constitutionally mandated anti-graft body, exposing Montelibano to both criminal prosecution and administrative sanctions that could affect his right to hold public office. The alleged operation involves violations under multiple laws — including the national ban on e-sabong and the Cybercrime Prevention Act — compounding the legal risks the board member faces. The Ombudsman’s preliminary evaluation will be the decisive next step in determining whether the case advances to a full-blown investigation with potentially career-ending consequences.
Source: Originally reported by breakingnewsnegrosoriental.com / PRO NIR press statement
