Violence & Brawls ·
Seven Horses Rescued in Raid on Alleged Horse-Fighting Operation
Four men were arrested in Davao Occidental. Authorities reported injuries among the animals and were seeking a barangay captain they accused of helping organize the event.
Surveillance video showed spectators watching two horses fight in Sta. Maria, Davao Occidental. On July 10, agents from the National Bureau of Investigation and the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group raided the gathering in Sitio Sala-Sala, Barangay Buca. Authorities arrested four men and rescued seven horses from what investigators described as an illegal horse-fighting and gambling operation.
“When we arrived there, it was like a festival—the place was packed,” NBI Environmental Crime Division executive officer Marvin Maramis told GMA News. He described people and horses scattering during the raid and said an improvised dome was destroyed. The agents moved in after receiving a signal, according to GMA.
NBI director Melvin Matibag said spectators were charged ₱500 to enter, with bets ranging from ₱500 to ₱5,000 or more. He also said the event was promoted online. Police reported seizing betting money, a money-counting machine, trophies and other gambling paraphernalia, together valued at an estimated ₱1.2 million.
The four arrested men included an organizer, an announcer and a cashier, according to GMA. Investigators said they would face complaints alleging violations of the Animal Welfare Act and the law against illegal gambling. At the time of GMA’s July 14 report, the men had not issued a statement.
Authorities also identified a local barangay captain as an alleged organizer. Brigada News reported that the official escaped during the operation; GMA reported that a manhunt was underway and that he would be among those accused. Matibag said a public official should be among the first to implement and follow the law, rather than violate it.
The seven rescued horses were four stallions and three mares. Accounts differed on the extent of their injuries: GMA reported that some had head and body injuries, while Brigada News reported wounds and bruises on all seven. The horses were turned over to the Department of Agriculture’s regional office for care and custody.
Heidi Caguioa, program director of the Animal Kingdom Foundation, described the harm horse fights can cause rather than diagnosing each rescued animal. “Usually, there are bite injuries, muscle trauma, and at worst, they get crippled,” she told GMA. “They also sustain internal injuries depending on how severe and how long the fight lasted.”