Fear among witnesses a challenge in PNP probe of missing sabungeros

Investigators in the disappearance of more than 30 cockfighting enthusiasts had to deal with the reluctance of witnesses to come forward and tell the authorities what they saw and heard as regards the series of abductions.

In an episode of The Mangahas Interviews, PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said the disappearances of individuals in cockfight vennues in Manila, Laguna, Rizal, and Batangas had similarities.

Two of the commonalities were the absence of working CCTV cameras and the venues' operators. — are also being managed by the same operators.

“Actually ang sinasabi ng mga nakausap ng investigators, madaming nakikita pero natatakot magsalita. Napakapalad nga po natin na may isang nagmalasakit na magbigay ng statement,” Fajardo said.

[Actually, our investigators said many have witnessed the abduction but they are too scared to speak up. We are fortunate that one of them had the courage to do so.]

“Ito po ang tinitignan natin na hindi imposible na gawin lang ng isa, dalawa o tatlong tao. Maaaring isang grupo na responsable sa pagkawala dahil 31 na tao na ang nawawala at nadagdag na tatlo,” she added.

[We are looking at it because it is impossible that only one, two, or three people are behind this. It could be that a group is responsible for the disappearance of 31 individuals,” she added.]

Amid its months-long investigation, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Friday said it found “striking similarities” in six separate cases involving the disappearance of 34 online cockfighting or “e-sabong” enthusiasts in the country.

Testimony at a recent Senate inquiry showed that businessman Atong Ang owned the arena. Ang, however, decried there was a “conspiracy” to pin him over the missing personalities.

The  Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Friday filed a complaint against eight suspects related to the missing cockfighting aficionados after a witness surfaced.

Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte defended the continuous operations of the virtual gamble anew even after senators appealed for its temporary suspension.

Learn more about the police's investigation in the video. —Sundy Mae Locus/NB, GMA News