Widen ‘missing sabungeros’ probe amid supposed link to drug war - Palace
Metro Manila, Philippines - Government agencies should widen their probe on the missing cockfighter enthusiasts or sabungero, the Palace said after Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla bared a possible link between the case and the drug war.
In a TV interview, Remulla said there is a “convergence” of the missing sabungeros case and former President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody anti-drug campaign.
“Many of the operations of many of the people here were intertwined also with the drug war. Meaning to say, they were involved in the drug war, and they were also involved in the silencing of these people,” the justice chief told Bilyonaryo News Channel.
A Malacañang official said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants justice for the families of the victims.
“Mukhang kone-konektado ang mga nagawang krimen, kung ito man po ay mapapatunayan. Hindi po natin sinasabi na sila na po ay guilty,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a briefing on Wednesday, July 9.
[Translation: If this is proven true, the crimes appear to be connected. We are not saying they are guilty.]
Finding bodies
Remulla said he is confident that the bodies of the missing persons would be found in Taal Lake in Batangas, where, suspect-witness Julie Patidongan said, the victims were dumped.
Patidongan also earlier said victims could reach up to 100.
Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano explained that under the law, “it is not absolutely necessary to find the body of the victim to prove the crime of murder.”
Should a body be retrieved from the lake, Clavano said it would serve as additional evidence.
Involvement denied
Meanwhile, retired judge and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Chairman Felix Reyes denied his supposed involvement in fixing the cases against businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang.
Patidongan has tagged Ang and actress Gretchen Barretto as masterminds in the disappearance case. The two denied the accusation.
READ: Atong Ang, Gretchen Barretto possible suspects in missing ‘sabungeros’ case - DOJ
Reyes challenged Patidongan.
“I dare him to identify any specific case of Mr. Atong Ang or anything related to the Sabungero Case, which I understand is still pending in court, that I fixed or settled to the advantage of Mr. Ang. If Mr. Patidongan cannot substantiate his accusation of case-fixing, I ask him to shut up,” Reyes said in a statement.
The Supreme Court has also been looking into judicial workers purportedly tagged in the case after Patidongan said the alleged mastermind has the power to sway the judicial process.
Reopening of probe?
In 2022, the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, chaired by Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, investigated the disappearances of at least 30 cockfighters who allegedly cheated the games.
In a briefing, the senator was asked if he would reopen the Senate probe amid developments on the case.
Dela Rosa replied that authorities should be given time to operate.
“Mamaya na naman, magpatawag ng hearing, makiusap na naman ang PNP (Philippine National Police) na, ‘Sir, pwede ‘wag muna. May ongoing pa kaming pina-follow up baka masunog operation namin,’” he said.
[Translation: If I call for a hearing, the PNP might ask me, “Sir, do not hold an inquiry yet. We have an ongoing follow up operation.”]
But dela Rosa said, it would be a different case if a senator would lodge a resolution.
“Pero kung merong mag-file ng [If a] resolution na senador [would be filed by a senator], then it’s my duty to conduct investigation, to reopen the case,” he said.
To date, 15 police officers are under restrictive custody for their alleged involvement in the killings of sabungeros.
