Bato to reopen probe into missing sabungeros if reso filed at Senate

Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said Thursday he is willing to reopen the Senate investigation into the case of the missing cockfighting enthusiasts or sabungeros should a resolution be filed in the Senate regarding the matter. 

Dela Rosa, chairman of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, led the upper chamber's probe in aid of legislation, into the missing persons allegedly involved in sabong and e-sabong in 2022. 

“As far as my committee is concerned, natapos na namin ang investigation. Pagbigyan na natin ang PNP para ipagpatuloy nila ‘yung imbestigasyon na ‘yan,” the senator said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview. 

(As far as my committee is concerned, we have finished the investigation. Let's give it to the PNP so they can continue the investigation.) 

“Pero kung merong, may narinig ako na may isang senador daw na magpa-file ng resolution, then kung ma-refer sa committee ko ang resolution nila, then reopen ko. I-reopen ko ang ang investigation na ‘yan,” he added. 

(But I heard that another senator intends to file a resolution. If that resolution is referred to my committee, then I will reopen the investigation.) 

Malacañang earlier said an extensive investigation into the missing sabungeros case should be done after Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin ''Boying'' Remulla had mentioned that those allegedly involved in this are also the same people linked to the drug war. 

One of the accused in the abduction of some of the cockfighters, Julie "Dondon" Patidongan, said the victims were killed on the days they were taken. He said their bodies were tied to sandbags before they were thrown into Taal Lake.

Patidongan also named businessman Atong Ang as a mastermind in the case. He also linked actress Gretchen Barretto to the disappearances. 

Both Ang and Barreto, who have been considered as suspects as per Remulla, have denied the accusations. 

No evidence vs Ang in 2022

Dela Rosa, who served as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) during the Duterte administration and was the chief implementer of the war on drugs, said that back in 2022, the Senate panel found no evidence to prove that Ang was the mastermind in the disappearances. 

“Hindi natin nasabi doon na siya ang mastermind. Wala kasi tayong solid evidence doon na makapag-link sa kanya eh. Hanggang kay Patidongan dahil sila ang last touch ng mga tao na ‘yun bago mawala,” he said. 

(We weren’t able to say that Ang was the mastermind. Because we don't have solid evidence back then to link him. We only tagged Patidongan because he was one of those who last touched the victims before they disappeared.)

He also said that while the Senate panel established a lot during the hearings, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) was not able to file murder cases, but only serious illegal detention and kidnapping charges against the suspects. 

Dela Rosa also lamented the timing of Patidongan’s recent statement, three years after the Senate probe concluded. 

“Mas credible sana siya kung doon pa siya nagsabi ng pinagsasabi niya ngayon, doon sa Senate hearing, para hindi makulayan ang kanyang intensyon, kanyang motibo,” he explained.

(He would’ve been more credible if he said before at the Senate hearing what he’s saying now so as not to put color to his intentions or his motives.) 

“Dahil ang motibo ngayon, sinasabi sa extortion dahil hindi nagbigay ng pera, mga ganon. Sana wala ‘yung allegation na ganon kung noon siya nagsabi. Ngayon, nandiyan siya, still masasabi ko pa rin na may credibility pa rin siya kahit papano,” he added. 

(Because now, there are allegations of extortion because he wasn’t able to receive money. There would’ve been no such allegation now if he just talked before. But now, I can say that he still has credibility somehow.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News