Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 15) — The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it is working double-time to find six suspects involved in the disappearance of sabungeros or cockfighting enthusiasts.
At the Laging Handa press briefing on Wednesday, PNP Public Information Office Chief PLtCol Red Maranan said they have sent out tracker teams to find the suspects.
“Doon naman sa may warrants of arrest, tayo naman ay mga litrato na sa kanila. Yung ating mga tracker teams ay walang tigil sa paghanap sa kanila at tayo ay umaasa na sa lalong madaling panahon ay mapasakamay natin itong mga hinahanap natin mga suspects na ito,” said Maranan.
[Translation: We have photos of those who have warrants of arrest. Our tracker teams continue to look for them, and we are hopeful they will be arrested soon.]
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has offered a reward of ₱6 million to those who can find the suspects.
The DOJ earlier filed kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges against six people allegedly involved in the disappearance of six sabungeros in January last year.
DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano said the information was filed with the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) against farm manager Julie Patidongan, Gleer Codilla, Mark Carlo Zabala, Virgilio Bayog, Johnry Consolacion, and Roberto Matillano Jr.
According to Maranan, the PNP is building up a case against the mastermind behind the missing sabungeros.
“Sa ngayon ay tuluy-tuloy ang paghanap natin ng mga karagdagang ebidensya, testigo, physical evidence, mga testimonial evidence. Tuluy-tuloy ang pag gather natin diyan nang sa gayon kapag na-assess natin na yung ating mga ebidensya ay sapat na upang makapagfile tayo ng demanda agad natin ifafile yan,” said Maranan.
[Translation: We continue to look for additional evidence, witnesses, physical evidence, testimonial evidence. We continue to gather these so when we assess the evidence we will have enough to file cases.]
In December 2022, the DOJ found that the six conspired in the kidnapping of John Claude Inonog, James Baccay, Marlon Baccay, Rondel Cristorum, Mark Joseph Velasco, and Rowel Gomez.
The sabungeros left Tanay, Rizal at 1 p.m. on January 13, 2022 to go to the Manila Arena but were forced to board a gray van at around 7:30 p.m. that day.
