Gov’t looking into more than 30 individuals in missing sabungeros case

The government is now investigating at least 30 individuals over the missing sabungeros or cockfight enthusiasts who disappeared from 2021 to 2022, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Friday.

“Marami na (there’s a lot),” Remulla said in an ambush interview when asked how many individuals are being probed.

“Maybe more than 30,” he added.

Remulla earlier met with whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan at the Department of Justice (DOJ). Patidongan had claimed that more than 100 sabungeros were abducted, killed, and then dumped at Taal Lake.

The Justice secretary said he and Patidongan discussed “clarifications and updates” as well as other individuals who may be involved in the case.

“Mahalaga ‘yan kasi syempre ‘yung demeanor nung witness dapat talaga kabisado natin. So far so good. Very reliable,” he said.

(That’s important because, of course, we really need to be familiar with the demeanor of the witness. So far so good. Very reliable.)

Last week, authorities started searching Taal Lake for the remains of the missing sabungeros.

So far, they have recovered what may be a human hip bone with a length of eight inches as well as what appears to be a human rib.

Patidongan had named businessman Atong Ang as a mastermind and also linked actress Gretchen Barretto to the case. Ang and Barreto deny the allegations.

Remulla, meanwhile, previously said that 15 police officers who allegedly carried out executions in the missing sabungeros case have been placed under restricted duty. 

The DOJ Secretary again called on the families of the missing sabungeros to approach the department for DNA matching.

“We’re also continuing to get the DNA of mga nawawalan ng e-sabong people, mga kamaganak nila, we’re also calling on them to come forward so we can input them in the DNA bank that we need,” he said.

(We’re also continuing to get the DNA of missing e-sabong people and their relatives. We’re also calling on them to come forward so we can input them in the DNA bank that we need.)

“Kasi we’re trying to establish a DNA bank so the e-sabong victims can be identified,” he added.

(Because we’re trying to establish a DNA bank so the e-sabong victims can be identified.) —VAL, GMA Integrated News