MANILA - Three Cagayan policemen were arrested with 120 people in an entrapment operation in a cockpit arena in Tuguegarao City on Tuesday.

Chief Supt. Amador Corpus, director of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), said the three policemen participated in online betting for a cockfight with more than 100 bettors.

The officers were identified as SPO2 Jeoffrey Furigay from the Peñablanca Municipal Police, SPO1 Elwood De Leon from the Amulung Municipal Police, and PO3 Agapito Iringan Jr. from the Calanasan, Apayao Municipal Police.

PNP-CIDG Cagayan chief Senior Supt. Ronald Gayo said the cockfight venue is legitimate but that online betting, which was being done at least once a week at the Vargas Cockpit Arena, is illegal.

"Wala pang isang taon 'yang nago-operate. Bigla-biglaan lang 'yan, by schedule depende pero hindi regular," he said.

(It has been operating for less than a year. Sometimes it's last minute, the schedule depends, it's not regular.)

Police also arrested online betting operator Jose Luis Carag together with more than 100 bettors during the entrapment operation.

The suspects were brought to the CIDG Cagayan Provincial Field Office in Camp Adduru, Tuguegarao City and will be charged with violation of the Anti-Illegal Gambling Law.