DOJ willing to talk with families who dropped missing sabungeros case

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is willing to talk with families of the missing sabungeros who withdrew from the case should they seek to return, Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon said Tuesday.

Fadullon said that though he heard reports that some may want to, he clarified that no family has reached out to the DOJ.

“Now, walang makakapigil sa kanila na magbalik, kung may gusto sila na maging bahagi ulit ng kaso, pero, of course, that may be viewed with some kwan, siguro pag-iingat din kasi nandyaan na ‘yung punto na nakipag-ayos sila,” he said in an ambush interview.

(Now, nothing can stop them from returning if they want to be part of the case again but, of course, that may be viewed with some, well, caution too because there was already a point when they settled.)

“Naiintindihan natin ngayon, siguro, with all these developments, nabuhayan ng loob. Kailangan na natin sila makausap para malaman natin ano ba ang naging dahilan ng inyong pag-urong at ano ang dahilan ng inyong kagustuhan ngayon na magbalik at makipagtulungan dito sa mga kasong naka-file,” he added.

(We understand now, maybe, with all these developments, they were encouraged. We need to talk to them to find out what was the reason for your withdrawal and what is the reason for your desire now to return and cooperate in these filed cases.)

Charges were filed against three members of the Philippine National Police with a San Pablo court for the kidnapping, serious illegal detention, and robbery with violence over the abduction of e-sabong agent Ricardo Lasco at his home in San Pablo City in 2021.

Meanwhile, kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges against whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan or alias Totoy, Gleer Codilla, Mark Carlo Zabala, Virgilio Bayog, Johnry Consolacion, and Roberto Matillano Jr. were filed with a Manila court.

This is over the disappearance of John Claude Inonog, James Baccay, Marlon Baccay, Rondel Cristorum, Mark Joseph Velasco, and Rowel Gomez. 

In August 2023, the families executed affidavits of desistance or a statement from a complainant expressing their desire to withdraw their complaint.

“Gano'n pa man, kahit sila ay umatras, ipinagpatuloy ng department [ang kaso] kasi sa aspeto ng pamilya that’s only as far as the civil aspect is concerned. The case can proceed kasi ‘yung criminal aspect niya ay hawak nu'ng prosecution based sa ebidensiya na meron pa kami,” he said.

(Even so, even if they withdrew, the department continued [pursuing the case] because in terms of the family, that’s only as far as the civil aspect is concerned. The case can proceed because the criminal aspect is handled by the prosecution based on the evidence we still have.)

Meanwhile, Fadullon said that the San Pablo court has granted bail for the three police officers. He said the DOJ will ask the court to reconsider this.

“Definitely, whatever it is, the department will surely file a motion for reconsideration and consider other options,” he said.

Fadullon said the case in Manila was also transferred from the Manila RTC Branch 40 to RTC Branch 185 after the judge inhibited upon request of the prosecutors. 

This came after the RTC 40 granted bail to Patidongan and others.

Patidongan has named businessman Atong Ang as a mastermind in the disappearance of the missing sabungeros. He also linked actress Gretchen Barretto.

The two have denied the allegations against them, with Ang saying that Patidongan threatened to link him to the disappearance if he refused to pay P300 million while Barretto said she received a similar threat.

According to Fadullon, the PNP is the one handling the case buildup on Ang.

“I think the PNP is the one handling it. They are continually doing their investigation,” he said.

“What I know as of this time is that they are continually building up the case, trying to validate also information that is being provided, that was provided by Alyas Totoy,” he added.

Patidongan also previously said that the bodies of the 34 missing sabungeros were buried in Taal Lake. Authorities have recently recovered sacks, some of which the Philippine National Police said contained human bones. —KG, GMA Integrated News