Remulla: Phones of 6 suspects may lead to truth in missing sabungero case

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Friday said authorities retrieved the mobile phones of the six accused in the case of the missing sabungeros, adding that he believed this may lead to the truth.

According to Remulla, the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) applied for a cyber warrant for the phones.

“Bakit mahalaga ito? Sapagkat, maari itong mag bigay liwanag sa mga ibang bagay-bagay sa ibang mga pangyayari bukod sa case number one na dahilan kung bakit sila nahuli,” he said in a media briefing following a meeting with the families of the sabungeros.

(Why is this important? Because this could bring light to some things that have happened, aside from case number one, which was the reason for their arrest.)

“Kaya dahil dito ay sabi ko nga sa mga pamilya ng mga missing sabungeros, isang taon kami nag uusap… at sa isang taon na ‘yon, ito marahil ang pinaka mahalagang araw sapagkat may lumalabas na maaring maging tulay papunta sa katotohanan,” he added.

(Because of this, I told the families of the missing sabungeros, we have been meeting for a year… and in that year, this may be the most important day because things are coming to light that may lead to the truth.)

Last week, the CIDG arrested Julie “Dondon” Patidongan, Carlo Zabala, Virgilio Bayog, Roberto Matillano Jr., Johnry Consolacion, and Gleer Codilla after a two-month surveillance operation.

The six on Thursday pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention before a Manila regional trial court for the alleged kidnapping of John Claude Inonog, James Baccay, Marlon Baccay, Rondel Cristorum, Mark Joseph Velasco, and Rowel Gomez.

‘Hilaw’

Asked how the cases were related, Remulla said many of the disappearances occurred at the Manila Arena with the “same characters.”

He added that this was an “original CIDG theory” from a year ago.

Remulla, meanwhile, said authorities might be close to identifying the mastermind behind the disappearances.

“Maaring nalalapit tayo, may possibilidad. Hindi po pwedeng sabihin nandoon na tayo sa bingit. Kasi ito, everyday is iffy. Pero may posibilidad na matukoy natin,” he explained.

(We may be close, there is a possibility. But we cannot say we are on the verge of identifying the mastermind because every day is iffy. But it is possible.)

Meanwhile, Jaja Pilarta, the missing sabungero Inonog's partner, said that while the DOJ would continue pursuing the case against the six suspects despite the affidavit of desistance signed by one of the families of the sabungeros, she feared the DOJ case would be half-baked.

“Syempre itutuloy ng DOJ ‘yung kaso doon sa anim kahit na umatras na sila sa kaso. Parang magiging hilaw na siguro ‘yung kaso sa kanila kasi nga wala na ‘yung witness. Hindi na mahagilap,” Pilarta said.

(Of course, the DOJ will continue the case against the six even despite the withdrawal. However, the case might be half-baked because the witness is gone. They can no longer be located.)

However, Remulla said they were not worried.

“Hindi po kami natatakot na mawawalan po ng ebidensya sapagkat kahit ayaw po tumestigo ng tao, pwede po nila ipatawag ‘yan, ng gobyerno, upang tumestigo as a hostile witness,” he said.

(We are not afraid about losing evidence because even though a person may not want to testify, the government may call on them to testify as a hostile witness.)

He added that the affidavit of desistance would not stop the case.

“No amount of affidavits of desistance will tell us to lay off a case where public interest is involved. And ito talaga, this is for interest of the state. Keep the well-being of all our citizens. They should be safe from any designs that will make them disappear from the face of the Earth,” he said.

“And because of that, kahit may desistance ‘yan, the state’s interest, I think, should be more important because it represents the interest of the Filipino people,” he added.

(And because of that, despite the desistance, the state’s interest, I think, should be more important because it represents the interest of the Filipino people.) — DVM, GMA Integrated News