Marcos wants deeper probe into missing sabungeros case

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. has ordered a deeper investigation into the disappearances of cockfighting enthusiasts after it was disclosed that cops were allegedly involved in their ill fate. 

This was according to Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro when asked for the President's directive on the matter.

''Ipagpatuloy po ang pag-iimbestiga, ang malalimang pag-iimbestiga para malaman kung sino ba talaga ang sangkot dito at mapanagot ang dapat mapanagot,'' Castro said during a press briefing.

Castro said Malacañang believes in the integrity of the Philippine courts amid reports that the mastermind in the disappearances was very powerful and influential.

''Naniniwala po tayo sa integridad ng ating Korte at ito'y masosolusyunan na ayon sa batas at ayon sa rule of law,'' Castro said. 

Earlier, National Police Commission (Napolcom) vice chairperson and executive officer Atty. Rafael Calinisan said the commission has started its own probe into the case amid claims that some police officers are allegedly involved in their disappearances of the sabungeros.

The Philippine National Police expressed support on the Napolcom probe. PNP chief Police General Nicolas Torre III said the Internal Affairs Service will work with the Napolcom for the possible disciplinary actions against the involved cops.

This came after alias Totoy, one of the accused, said that 20 police officers were involved in the kidnapping case of the cockfight enthusiasts. Totoy said that he would name the involved persons in his affidavit.

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

Authorities said the missing personalities were kidnapped allegedly due to match fixing or cheating in the cockfighting games.

Totoy also claimed that the victims were already buried in Taal Lake. —AOL, GMA Integrated News