Cops in sabungeros case face complaints over other alleged abductions in 2021

Complaints were filed Wednesday against some cops linked to the missing sabungeros case over alleged abductions of four individuals during supposed anti-illegal drug operations in 2021.

Three parents went to the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) office to file their complaint-affidavit for the disappearance of their children since 2021.

The missing individuals were identified as Charles Dean Sotto, Dane Mark Carlos, as well as siblings Jordi and Mico Mateos.

At least 11 cops and two confidential informants were implicated in the complaint.

NAPOLCOM vice chairperson and executive officer Commissioner Rafael Vicente Calinisan said at least four of the implicated cops were also linked to the missing sabungeros case.

These include Police Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Jay Eliab Orapa, Police Major Mark Philip Simborio Almedilla, Police Staff Master Sergeant Mark Anthony Aguilo Manrique, and Police Staff Sergeant Edmon Hernandez Muñoz.

GMA News Online has sought comment and asked the Philippine National Police for the contacts of the implicated police officers to get their statements but the organization has yet to respond as of posting time. 

The four cops are among the 12 police officers who faced 90-day preventive suspension on August 4 amid the investigation into the case of missing sabungeros.

The complainants tagged Orapa as the supposed leader of the group behind alleged abductions.

“Ang nanguna, ang lider nila ay si Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Orapa at ang mga tao niya (Their leader was Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Orapa and his men),” Roger Mateos said.

Another complainant Elizabeth Sotto said, “Kaya namin nalaman dahil sa guwardiya ng subdivision ng BF International na nakita niya. Sabi ng mga tao na dumukot, ‘Huwag kang makialam dahil ito ay police operation.”

(We found out because of the guard of the BF International subdivision who saw the abduction. The abductors said, ‘Don’t interfere because this is a police operation.’)

Milagros Estacio also identified a certain Atienza alias Kulot in the alleged abduction.

“May isang nagngangalang Atienza alyas kulot na nakita sa CCTV na nakalap na sumakay doon sa sasakyan na um-abduct sa aking anak. 'Yung Atienza na 'yan kasama 'yan ng mga kapulisan,” Estacio said.

(There was a person named Atienza alias Kulot who was seen on CCTV footage boarding the vehicle where the abductors put my son. That Atienza was with the police.)

In July, the Department of Justice said it was looking into the possible link of the missing sabungeros case to the extrajudicial killings during the drug war.

“I think that the death squads... the people who undertake the contractual killings may intersect somehow with the drug war and with the e-sabong. May mga taong parang involved sa pagpatay sa drug war at sa e-sabong,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said.

(The people who undertake the contractual killings may intersect somehow with the drug war and with the e-sabong. Some people seem to be involved in the killings both in the drug war and e-sabong.) —AOL, GMA Integrated News