Kin not giving up on missing sabungero

A relative of one of the missing online cockfighting or “e-sabong” enthusiasts said their family will no longer press charges on those responsible for her kin’s sudden disappearance if she comes back home alive.

Fe Mesina, the aunt of Jonalyn Lubuguin, believes her niece is still alive around eight months into her disappearance. The victim is among the seven individuals who went missing after they visited a cockfighting pit in Sta. Cruz, Laguna in January.

“Wala nga pong balita kung buhay pa o patay na o ano. Sabi ko nga po sana naman kung patay na ay makita man lamang ang katawan. Para medyo matahimik naman pati kami,” Mesina said in Emil Sumangil’s report on “24 Oras”.

(There’s no information if she is still alive or not. If she is dead, I just wish we can see her body so we can put things to rest.)

“Marami pong nagsasabi na patay na raw sa tagal na ng panahon. Pero parang sa puso ko po ay parang buhay pa. Uulpot at uulpot si Jonalyn dito sa amin,” she said.

(A lot of people are saying she is already dead because it has been so long. But in my heart, I know she will return one of these days.)

Lubuguin grew up under her auntie’s care after her mom died. Mesina said she got sick after she went missing.

Their family has filed a police report on her disappearance but has yet to lodge a formal complaint about the incident.

“Para nga pong ako'y nananahimik na lang at sabi ko nga po ay may awa ang Dyos. Parang sa Dyos na ako nakakapit. Ano naman po isasampa natin halimbawa? Hindi ko naman alam sino ang may kagagawan non,” said Mesina.

(I am staying quiet but I know God has mercy. I am holding onto Him. And if we’ll press charges, what can we file? We don’t even know who did this.)

Meanwhile, Mesina said she will firmly reject any arrangements in exchange for abandoning the search for her niece.

Complaints have been filed against nine individuals before the Department of Justice (DOJ) due to the disappearance of the e-sabong enthusiasts in Bulacan, Quezon, and Rizal. The DOJ has yet to issue its resolution on the cases.—Sundy Mae Locus/LDF, GMA News