PNP open to making cops in custody as witnesses in missing sabungeros case

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday expressed openness in making the cops in restrictive custody as state witnesses in the case of the missing cockfighting enthusiasts or sabungeros.

“We withhold first the status of those details dahil alam ninyo naman ang significance. Of course, that's one of the directions that we can take,” PNP chief Police General Nicolas Torre III said in an ambush interview.

“If some of them will volunteer to be state witnesses or they decide to tell all, then that will be a welcome development in the investigation. But even without that, we can solve this case even without the cooperation of the suspects,” he added.

Feelers

The National Police Commission (Napolcom) said the agency has received feelers from various persons in connection with the case of the missing sabungeros.

“May mga ibang feelers kaming nakukuha. Sa totoo lang, sana mag-materialize yung kanilang paglapit. And hopefully, yung mga lumalapit na ito ay makapag-produce ng affidavit at maging susi rin sa ating imbestigasyon,” Naplocom Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Atty. Rafael Vicente Calinisan said in an ambush interview.

(We are getting other feelers. In fact, we hope that their efforts will materialize. And hopefully, these people will be able to produce an affidavit and be key to our investigation.)

“Sabihin na lang natin na talagang the feelers came from different people, that can be a police officer, also that can be a civilian,” he added.

(Let’s just say that the feelers came from different people, that can be a police officer or civilian.)

A total of 15 cops are under restrictive custody at Camp Crame, Quezon City for their alleged involvement in the abduction of the sabungeros as claimed by whistleblower and co-accused Julie “Dondon” Patidongan.

The concerned police officers were assigned in support and regional units as well as in area police command. One of them is due for retirement while three have already been dismissed.

As early as January 2023, seven cops allegedly involved in the crime were initially dismissed from the service.

Some of the 15 cops in restrictive custody were included in the alleged up to P2 million monthly payola from Atong Ang, who was among the supposed masterminds in the disappearances as claimed by Patidongan.

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.

Patidongan claimed that the victims were already buried in Taal Lake.

However, Torre said the police are also checking other alleged “disposal areas” of the missing sabungeros. He added that they received information that some sabungeros were burned. 

“Meron na kaming mga iilan na binibisita. May mga areas kami, not only around Laguna or Batangas, but in other part of the Metro, and of course, in underlying areas. Saka na namin ibibigya lahat,” Torre said.

(We already have a few areas that are being visited. We have areas, not only around Laguna or Batangas, but in other parts of the Metro, and of course, in underlying areas. We will give more details later on.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News