DOJ: Will look into whistleblower's claims in missing sabungeros case

The Department of Justice (DOJ) said it is open to looking at the claims made by a whistleblower of the missing sabungeros case.

In Saleema Refran’s “24 Oras” report on Wednesday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said he wants to meet Alias “Totoy,” who is also one of the suspects in the case of the sabungeros who went missing four years ago.

“Titingnan ko lang kung ang kanyang sinasabi at yung sinasabi ng ibang testigo ay kapareho sa mga nakarating sa ating tanggapan,” Remulla said.

(I will check if his statements are similar with the testimonies from other witnesses that my office has received.)

Even if he is one of the suspects, the DOJ said it will check how Totoy will contribute to the case.

“Pwede naman siyang pumunta rito at bibigyan namin siya ng pansin at binibuild up pa namin ang kaso pero malapit na. Malapit na,” Remulla said.

(We can still accommodate him since we’re still building up the case. We’re almost done.)

Totoy, one of the accused in the kidnapping case told the loved ones of some of the victims, said the missing sabungeros or cockfight watchers who disappeared four years ago are already dead.

The DOJ said it could study the possibility if Totoy could be entered into the Witness Protection Program in light of the threats to his life and the safety of his family.

Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is also willing to give additional protection to Totoy.

“Maganda yan at sige pakinggan natin sya. I assure him na bibigyan namin sya ng proteksyon, akong bahala sa kanya. Huwag siyang matakot. Maganda iyan, welcome iyan,” NBI Director Jaime Santiago said.

(This is good. We will listen to him. I assure him that we will give him protection. He should not be scared. I will take care of him.)

DOJ currently has seven cases of kidnapping and serious illegal detention in relation to the sabungeros who went missing at the Manila Arena and the kidnapping of Ricardo Lasco, a master agent, in San Pablo, Laguna.

Meanwhile, many missing sabungeros do not have cases and are still being investigated by the NBI and the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News