NAPOLCOM completes admin probe vs cops in missing sabungeros case

The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) said Friday it has finished the probe for the administrative case filed against the cops allegedly involved in the disappearances of sabungeros or cockfight enthusiasts.

In an ambush interview, NAPOLCOM vice chairperson and executive officer Ralph Calinisan said the commission is waiting for the resolution of the Department of Justice (DOJ) first before releasing its decision.

“Tapos na kami. Nasa mesa na namin yung draft. Inuupuan para i-deliberate at ilabas kasi precisely inaantay namin yung DOJ resolution,” Calinisan said.

(We are done. The draft is already on our table. We are sitting down to deliberate and release it because we are precisely waiting for the DOJ resolution.)

“Bakit? Abswelto, e di okay. Papaano kung guilty? Paano kung dismissal ang aming hatol? Saan natin hahanapin, saan natin ise-serve iyong mga warrants of arrest ng mga iyan,” he added.

(Why? If acquitted, then okay. What if guilty? What if our verdict is dismissal? Where will we look for them, where will we serve the warrants of arrest for them.)

Calinisan pointed out that the NAPOLCOM will wait for the right time to issue its decision.

“Rest assured sa lahat ng nanonood nito, ginawa namin ang trabaho namin, 60 days tapos yung aming desisyon,” he said.

(Rest assured to all those watching this, we did our job, 60 days later we made our decision.)

“Pero mas makabubuti siguro sa sambayanan na hawakan muna namin. Wala namang masama kung hawakan namin ng ilang araw pa e tapos na rin kami,” he added.

(But it would probably be better for the people if we hold it for a while. There’s nothing wrong with holding it for a few more days since we’re already done.)

Murder complaint

On Tuesday, a DOJ prosecutor said the murder complaint filed against businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang and other individuals over the missing sabungeros has been submitted for resolution.

“The panel declared that the preliminary investigation is already submitted for resolution... That is after the complainant manifested that they are not filing a reply to the counter-affidavits of the respondents,” Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Charlie Guhit said.

Whistleblower and one of the accused Julie “Dondon” Patidongan as well as the families of missing sabungeros on July 14 filed a complaint-affidavit implicating 18 cops who are linked to the disappearances.

On August 4, NAPOLCOM announced that the commission imposed a 90-day preventive suspension on 12 police officers in connection with the investigation into the case of missing sabungeros.

As early as January 2023, seven cops allegedly involved in the crime were already dismissed from the service.

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. According to the DOJ, around 887 human bones have been retrieved from Taal Lake as of October 21.

He named 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. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News