CIDG has ‘idea’ of mastermind behind missing sabungeros

The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) on Monday said it already has an idea about the mastermind behind the missing sabungeros.

CIDG chief Police Brigadier General Romeo Jr. issued the remark following a case conference with the sabungeros’ families and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla at the Department of Justice.

“We have an idea of who but bilang primary investigating agency ng Philippine National Police ang CIDG, we don’t want na mag-file kami ng kaso na madi-dismiss lang,” Caramat said in an ambush interview.

(We have an idea but since CIDG is the primary investigating agency of the PNP, we don't want to file a case that will just be dismissed.)

Due to this, he said they cannot yet divulge the alleged mastermind’s identity.

Meanwhile, according to Caramat, law enforcement personnel are concentrating on the arrest of several individuals that are linked to some of the disappearances.

“That is the reason why we’re concentrating on arresting these people because we believe na sila po ‘yung lahat ng mga kaso up to case number 8 ay iisa lang ‘yung may kagagawan,” he said.

(That is the reason why we're concentrating on arresting these people because we believe that they are responsible for all the cases up to case number eight.)

“And we believe that these people are the ones who orchestrated all these cases and so kapag mahuli ito, lahat ng kaso, lahat ng case na iniimbestigahan namin ay ma so-solve,” he added.

(And we believe that these people are the ones who orchestrated all these cases so if we catch them, all the cases that we are investigating will be solved.)

In January, the Department of Justice filed kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges against six individuals allegedly involved in the disappearance of six sabungeros.

Three former policemen linked to the kidnapping of e-sabong agent Ricard Lasco have also surrendered. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News