Police release wanted poster of six suspects behind missing ‘sabungeros’ in Manila Arena

The Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Friday released the wanted poster of six suspects in the disappearance of cockfight enthusiasts or "sabungeros" in Manila Arena last year.

The suspects have been identified as Julie Patidongan or Dondon, Mark Carlo Zabala, Roberto Matillano Jr., Johnry Consolacio, Virgilio Bayog, and Gleer Codilla or Gler Cudilla.

Police are offering P1,000,000 for each suspect.

Warrants of arrest have been released against the six suspects for kidnapping and serious illegal detention.

CIDG chief Police Brigadier General Romeo Caramat Jr. said the posters will be posted in all PNP units, places of convergence, social media, and website of CIDG.

Caramat encouraged the public to help them in any way possible to capture the accused.

The Manila Arena case or "Case 1" is one of the eight cases being investigated by the CIDG through Special Investigation Task Group "Sabungero".

So far, the criminal complaints filed in Cases 1 and 8 (for the kidnapping of e-sabong master agent Ricardo Lasco) were favored by the courts to have probable cause to indict the respondents through the issuance of arrest warrants, the CIDG said.

Initially, complaints have been filed against eight identified persons and several "John Does" involved in the Manila Arena case early this year, according to the CIDG.

Complaints were also filed against five police personnel and their cohorts in Lasco’s kidnapping. Three of the suspect cops have surrendered to authorities and pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, serious illegal detention, and robbery. —VAL, GMA Integrated News