Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 23) — The 11 police officers allegedly involved in the case of the missing cockfight enthusiasts, or sabungeros, were relieved from their posts, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said on Sunday.
NCRPO Acting Regional Director BGen. Jonnel Estomo on Oct. 21 ordered the reassignment of the policemen due to charges filed against them by the National Bureau of Investigation-Task Force Against Illegal Drugs (NBI-TFAID) over the disappearance of four sabungeros in Cavite.
Estomo identified the sacked policemen as former NCRPO Regional Drug Enforcement Unit chief Police Lt. Col. Ryan Orapa; Police Lt. Jesus Menez; Police Staff Sgts. Ronald Lanaria, Ronald Montibon, Troy Paragas, Roy Pioquinito and Robert Raz Jr.; and Police Cpls. Christal Rosita, Denar Roda, Alric Natividad and Ruscel Solomon.
The NCRPO chief also placed them under the restrictive custody of the Regional Headquarters Support Unit.
The 11 cops are facing kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges as well as violation of the Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act lodged against them by the National Bureau of Investigation.
“Rest assured that we will cooperate and will not condone any form of lawlessness committed by our men regardless of rank and designation should it be established following due investigation by competent authorities,” Estomo said.
Dozens of sabungeros have reportedly disappeared since 2021. Preliminary investigations found that the incidents were caused by claims of game-fixing or cheating in online sabong.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte halted the online sabong operations in May due to the societal damage caused by gambling, following reports that several players pawn their possessions just to join the popular online game.
