2 minors among 34 abducted sabungeros

Two minors were among the 34 abducted sabungeros who went missing and have allegedly been killed, according to suspect alyas “Totoy.”

In a report on "24 Oras" Friday, Totoy confirmed that there were no survivors among the sabungeros, including 14-year-old Myson Ramos and 17-year-old John Paul de Luna, who worked as chicken feeders.

The two minors reportedly joined three other missing sabungeros to a derby in Sta. Cruz, Laguna on December 30, 2021 but was not able to return.

“Sasama daw po siya sa pagsabong para yung kikitain niya pong pera, gagamitin niya po yun para mabigyan ng magandang bagong taon po yung kaniyang pamilya,” shared Ramos’ aunt Janice Esplana.

(He said that he will go to the cockfight so that the money he will earn can be used for a better New Year for his family.)

While the two minors’ employers returned, the 5 missing sabungeros never came home and were named among the 34 missing sabungeros.

“’Yung mga sasakyan po di na bumalik, tapos po may nagreport po samin na natagpuan po yung sasakyan doon sa Taguig,” Esplana added.

(The cars never returned, and someone reported to us that the car was found in Taguig.)

During a phone call with alyas “Totoy,” one of the accused who has decided to do a tell-all, it was confirmed that Myson was among the deceased sabungeros dumped in the Taal Lake.

“Lahat walang nakaligtas. Ako na magsasabi sa inyo, pasensya na… pero walang nakaligtas,” said Totoy.

(None of them survived. I’ll be the one to tell you, I’m sorry… but no one survived.)

The grieving family said that it was better for them to find out about Myson’s fate as they will now be able to pursue further action with a testifying witness.

“Sa amin po ay sobrang laking tulong po, sir. Napakasaya po namin at kahit papaano po sa pakikipaglaban namin ay nagkaroon na po ng magandang linaw. Sana po bigyan ng hustisya kaming mahihirap na bagaman po kami ay wala pong pera… Ang batas naman po para sa lahat, hindi lang para sa mayayaman,” Esplana said.

(It’s a big help for us, sir. We are so happy that at the very least, we will be able to fight back and get a clearer understanding. I hope we poor people will be able to get justice even if we have no money… The law is for everybody, not just for the rich.) — GMA Integrated News