PNP-IAS awaits alias Totoy's affidavit to probe cops in missing sabungeros case

The Philippine National Police - Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) said Tuesday it is waiting for alias Totoy to file a formal affidavit for them to investigate more cops linked to the case of missing cockfighting enthusiasts.

PNP-IAS inspector general Atty. Brigido J. Dulay said that Totoy implicated more cops in the case aside from the seven cops who were initially dismissed from the service as early as January 2023.

“Minsan makuha po namin ang kopya, tatakbo at gugulong ang administrative aspect ng salaysay ni Totoy. Yung pangalan po na sinasabi na bagong mga sangkot na pulis ay wala pang kahit anong dokumento na nilalabas at inilalatag dyan,” he said.

(Once we get the copy, the administrative aspect of Totoy's statements will be running and rolling. The names that are said to be newly involved police officers have not yet been released and laid out in any documents.)

Dulay noted that the PNP-IAS will face challenge in pushing the investigation without Totoy’s formal affidavit containing new revelations in the case.

“Kami, gumagawa na rin ng investigation at case build up base sa dokumento na available na ngayon pero hindi kami makakatuloy ang umusad,” he said.

(We are also conducting an investigation and case build-up based on the documents that are now available but we cannot continue to move forward.)

“Sabi ko nga ang salaysay ng mga nabigay dati sa Senado, salaysay na binigay sa investigasyon, ay kailangan pa lagyan ng sustansya. At ang sustansya nito ay sa salaysay ng revelation ng bagong testigo na ito,” he added.

(As I said, the statements previously given to the Senate and during the investigation still need to be supplemented. And the supplementation of these statements is in the revelation of this new witness.)

Dulay said the seven dismissed cops were allegedly involved in the kidnapping of only three of the 34 missing cockfighting enthusiasts.

Totoy, one of the accused, earlier said that 20 police officers were involved in the kidnapping case of the cockfight enthusiasts. Totoy said that he will name the involved persons in his affidavit.

A total of 34 cockfighting enthusiasts have been reported missing from 2021 to 2022.

According to the police, the missing personalities were kidnapped allegedly due to match fixing or cheating in the cockfighting games.

Totoy claims that the victims were already buried in Taal Lake. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News