Lawyer of cop linked to missing sabungeros flags ‘missing affidavits’

The lawyer of one of the cops linked to the missing sabungeros case said there were affidavits missing from the submission of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Bernard Vitriolo, legal counsel of Police Master Sergeant Joey Encarnacion, called on Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Nicolas Torre III to direct the CIDG to submit the supposed affidavits, allegedly from the people of whistleblower and co-accused Julie “Dondon” Patidongan.

“Yung kalahati ng pagpapatunay or salaysay na nagpapaliwanag ng mga pangyayari noong 2021 at 2022 ay sinu-suppress ng kinauukulan,” Vitriolo said in a press conference on Wednesday.

(Half of the evidence or narrative that explains the events of 2021 and 2022 is being suppressed by the authorities.)

“Kaya po nandito kami para sana si General Torre ay atasan niya itong CIDG na isumite sa DOJ itong mga nawawalang affidavits ng witnesses,” he added.

(That’s why we are here so that General Torre will order the CIDG to submit these missing affidavits of witnesses to the DOJ.)

In a letter to the CIDG dated August 3, Vitriolo asked the CIDG about the said affidavits as he pointed out that these documents could “alter the outcome of the investigation.”

“We also have information that the foregoing affidavits, notwithstanding the materiality of the narratives contained therein to the ‘missing sabungero case,’ were not submitted, or included in the case folder, turned over, to the DOJ for evaluative investigation that could lead to the filing of cases against possible respondents, including my client,” he said in the letter.

“However, we believe that the inclusion of these affidavits could substantially alter the outcome of the investigation as well as the possibility that my client would be considered a respondent,” he added.

CIDG chief Police Brigadier General Christopher Abrahano said they have received the affidavits but did not submit them to the DOJ because their investigators did not gather the information.

“We acknowledged receipt ng mga dokumento so walang missing affidavits. Yun lang in-evaluate ng mga investigators natin na hindi naman yung mga investigators natin ang nag-collect ng mga ebidensyang yun,” he told reporters in an interview.

(We acknowledged receipt of the documents so there are no missing affidavits. Our investigators just evaluated that it wasn’t our investigators who collected the evidence.)

“So hindi na muna namin sinubmit  sa DOJ yun per they are not prevented from submitting it to the DOJ  kais for evaluation pa rin naman yung kaso. Wala tayong sinusupress na ebidensya,” he added.

(So we didn’t submit it to the DOJ yet, but they are not prevented from submitting it to the DOJ because the case is still for evaluation. We don’t have any suppressed evidence.)

For his part, DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano pointed out, “Even if the CIDG did submit the affidavits to this Department, it would not be given a lot of weight especially because it is being offered by no less than the defense team.”

“The situation is quite awkward, even for the respondents,” he added.

Patidongan and the families of missing sabungeros on July 14 filed a complaint-affidavit implicating 18 cops who have been linked to the disappearances.

The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) announced August 4 that it has imposed a 90-day preventive suspension on 12 involved active police officers. 

This includes Encarnacion. 

NAPOLCOM said the other six police officers have already been dismissed.

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.

He named businessman Atong Ang as a mastermind in the case and also linked actress Gretchen Barretto to the disappearances. Both have denied the allegations.

On August 1, multiple murder, serious illegal detention, enforced disappearance, direct bribery, and obstruction of justice were filed against Ang and others. — BM, GMA Integrated News