Missing sabungero’s family fears DOJ may dismiss their case

The family of one of the missing sabungeros is worried that the case involving their missing loved one may be the one the Department of Justice (DOJ) said could be dismissed, according to Emil Sumangil's "24 Oras" report on Wednesday.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier said that the DOJ may dismiss one of the complaints due to supposed "lack of time and evidence.”

“One of them, it's just the time element has passed already, it's due. It has to be refiled afterwards, so that time can run again,” Remulla said.

The Justice secretary did not disclose which case he was referring to.

The relatives of Michael Bautista, one of the missing sabungeros, are afraid that Remulla was referring to their complaint.

“Nag-file na po ng counter-affidavit ang kalaban, then siyempre kailangan namin mag-reply. Ngayon po nung magre-reply na kami, pina-hold ng CIDG, ng legal nila. Kesyo pagaaralan daw yung reply namin. Hanggang sa maubos na 'yung given time ng SOJ,” Ryan Bautista, brother of missing sabungero Michael Bautista, said.

(The other side had filed a counter-affidavit, so of course we had to reply. Now when we were about to reply, the CIDG put us on hold because they said they were still studying it. Until the given time had run out.)

“Alam ko 15 days, 15 days dapat maka-reply na kayo. Ngayon po ang nangyari nung magpapasa na kami ng reply, hindi na tinanggap kasi lagpas na sa given time. Walang reply, natural, ang kaso namin hihina,” he added.

(I know we were given 15 days to reply. But when we tried to submit our reply it was not accepted because it was beyond the given time. No reply, so naturally our case is weakened.)

The family has also called out the police.

“Eh bakit naman madi-dismiss ang kaso? Ganito po ang nangyari, first preliminary investigation po namin, wala kaming kasamang imbestigador,” he said.

(Why would the case be dismissed? This is what happened. At our first preliminary investigation, we did not have an investigator with us.)

“Ang kalaban namin, ang attorney nila tatlo nandun. Tinatanong kami ng prosecutor, mayroon pa ba kayong evidensiya? Wala po kaming masabi, ang ano [sagot] nasa imbestigador,” he said.

(Our opponent, they have three lawyers. The prosecutor asks us, do you still have evidence? We can't say anything, because our supposed answer is up to the investigator.)

GMA Integrated News is still seeking the side of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Michael is one of the sabungeros who went missing after attending a derby in Santa Cruz, Laguna in April 2021.

In a video retrieved from a phone last November, the victim was seen leaving the cockpit arena with handcuffs together with one of the arena guards, Julie “Dondon” Patidongan.

The video was submitted as evidence by the Special Investigation Task Group that led to a complaint being filed against Patidongan and another individual in December 2022.

Michael’s family is also grieving the recent death of his father.

“Kaiintay noong ama, namatay na lang. Eh sana naman tulungan kami ni Bongbong Marcos. maawa siya sa amin, marami kami, trenta kami, na naghihirap na mga magulang,” Michael's mother Nelda Bautista said.

(His father died while waiting for him. I hope President Marcos will help us. Have mercy on us, there are many of us, thirty of us, who are poor parents.)

“Lahat na po ng negative nasabi na sa amin. Ako, as long as wala ako nararamdaman na masama o kakaiba tungkol sa asawa ko, naniniwala pa rin ako at umaasa na makakabalik siya,” Michaels' wife Lanie Bautista added.

(All the negative things have been said to us. But as long as I don't feel anything that is bad or strange regarding my husband, I still believe and hope that he can come back.)

Last April, Remulla said tracker teams will be formed to look for the suspects linked to the disappearance of six sabungeros at the Manila Arena in 2022.

Remulla also said it is "never too late" after the family of a missing sabungero expressed dismay over the supposed delay in the formation of the tracker teams. — Richa Noriega/BM, GMA Integrated News