Murder, international humanitarian law raps may be filed over missing sabungeros, says DOJ

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Tuesday said that murder, kidnapping, as well as violation of international humanitarian law cases may be filed over the case of the sabungeros who disappeared from 2021 to 2022.

“We’re rolling by the day, we're looking at everything by the day. And at the same time may conference din ‘yung ating lawyers about the cases that are being evaluated for filing. From kidnapping to international humanitarian law,” Remulla said in an ambush interview.

(We’re rolling by the day, we’re looking at everything by the day. And at the same time, our lawyers also have a conference about the cases that are being evaluated for filing. From kidnapping to international humanitarian law.)

“These are considered probable cases that we will be filing together with the murder and other cases that have to be filed against the perpetrators,” he added.

This came after one of the accused in the case, Julie “Dondon” Patidongan or alias “Totoy” said the bodies of the 34 missing sabungeros were buried in Taal Lake.

Remulla described the killings of the missing sabungeros as a “corporate killing” as he bared that there are groups within the industry who are categorized depending on the income they receive.

Aside from Alpha Group, he said there was also a Bravo Group, a Charlie Group, and a Delta Group.

Asked who are part of these groups, Remulla said there are various people, some of whom are businessmen and government functionaries.

“Tiered lang siya according to the income stream that they all receive out of this e-sabong industry,” the justice secretary said.

(It’s just tiered according to the income stream that they all receive out of this e-sabong industry.)

“Corporate na corporate. Corporate killing,” he added.

Remulla earlier said authorities will look into the “fishpond lease” of one of the suspects in the investigation. He had said that this will be the “ground zero” of the search operation.

According to Remulla, they were told that individuals are brought to this area to be killed.

“Buhay pa ‘yung mga tao dinadala sa kanila, doon na pinapatay ‘yung karamihan diyan. Grabe ito, it's a very ghastly... It's a very ghastly scene that we can imagine,” he said.

(People were still alive when they were brought to them, most of them were killed there. It's terrible. It’s a very ghastly... It's a very ghastly scene that we can imagine.)

“Some people are being targeted for execution and they're being turned over to some people may mga kanya kanyang kontrata, isang contractor who did it,” he added.

(Some people are being targeted for execution and they’re being turned over to some people, each with their own contract, one contractor who did it.)

Call for information

Remulla said some individuals are now getting in touch with the Department of Justice to clear their names or to assure the department of their cooperation.

He also urged others with information to do the same.

“Mabuting maaga pa lang mag salita na sila kasi mahahanap din namin ‘yan, makikita din namin ‘yan. In the long run, the case is going to haunt all of them. This is a long, drawn out case, and the earlier they come in the better,” he said.

(It’s better if they speak up early because we will eventually find that out, we will eventually see it. In the long run, the case is going to haunt all of them. This is a long, drawn out case, and the earlier they come in the better.)

“Sinasabi natin lahat ng may alam diyan, mag salita na kayo kasi nga baka kayo naman ang aming ma-ano sa susunod,” he added.

(We’re telling everyone who knows something about it, speak up now because you might be the ones we go after next.)

Remulla said some members of these groups may be unaware of what is going on behind the scenes.

“Mabigat itong e-sabong kasi ang dami talaga gusto sumakay dahil may pera. Hindi nila alam mabigat na pala ang presyo na kapalit ng perang kinukuha nila ay marami pala pinapapatay na tao,” he said.

(This e-sabong issue is heavy because so many really want to get involved since there’s money in it. What they don’t realize is that the price of the money they are getting is that many people are being killed because of it.) — BAP, GMA Integrated News