THE National Police Commission (Napolcom) yesterday suspended for at least 90 days the 12 policemen implicated in the case of the missing “sabungeros” or cockfighting enthusiasts pending the resolution of the administrative complaint filed against them.
The order to suspend the policemen was contained in a resolution signed by Napolcom chairman and Interior Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla and Napolcom vice chairman and executive officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan.
It was based on the motion of suspect-turned-whistleblower Julie Patidongan, alias Totoy, which was included in his July 14 complaint.
Patidongan has alleged that the policemen were involved in the abduction and killing of over a hundred sabungeros, whose bodies were allegedly disposed and dumped at Taal Lake in Batangas. Technical divers from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) are currently conducting a massive search and recovery operation at the lake.
Suspended were Col. Jacinto Malinao Jr., Lt. Col. Ryan Jay Orapa, Maj. Mark Philip Almedilla, Executive Master Sergeant Aaron Ezrah Cabillan, Chief Master Sergeant Arturo dela Cruz Jr.; Staff Master Sergeants Joey Encarnacion, Mark Anthony Manrique and Anderson Abary; Staff Sergeants Alfredo Andes, Edmon Muñoz, and Renan Fulgencio; and Corporal Angelo Joseph Martin.
The 12 police officers are currently under the restrictive custody of the PNP at Camp Crame.
The Napolcom, in the resolution, clarified that the suspension is not yet a form of punishment.
“The imposition of preventive suspension is not a penalty but a protective and procedural measure intended to preserve the integrity of the investigation, prevent any undue influence or interference in the proceedings, and assure the availability of evidence and witnesses,” it said.
“It serves to protect both public interest and the administrative process, while allowing the case to be resolved on its merits in a fair, impartial, and expeditious manner,” it added.
It said that there exists “substantial legal and factual basis” to grant Patidongan’s motion, noting that “the gravity of the charges, the preliminary showing of strong evidence of guilt, and the necessity to safeguard the integrity and impartiality of the proceedings collectively justify the imposition of preventive suspension against the respondents.”
The Napolcom resolution directed PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III to “implement this order immediately and to submit proof of compliance to the commission within five days from receipt thereof.”
In a press briefing, Calinisan said the order was served to the PNP yesterday morning, adding that the involved policemen have likewise been directed to answer Patidongan’s complaint.
“They have seven days from August 1 to submit their respective answer,” he said.
He said a pre-hearing conference on the case id scheduled on August 14.
Calinisan reiterated that the suspension imposed on the policemen is not a punishment.
“This is a tool of the National Police Commission to ensure the safety of witnesses, the integrity of the investigation. We are placing respondents on preventive suspension upon motion of the complainant,” he said.
He said the Napolcom is allowed to impose such preventive suspensions “when the charge is serious or grave, and the evidence of guilt is strong,” and if there is proof that the respondents are exerting efforts to harass, intimidate, coerce or influence the complainant or his/her witnesses.
BONES, CLOTHINGS
PNP spokeswoman Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo yesterday said PCG divers have recovered in the last several days more bones, clothes, slippers and other belongings at Taal Lake where the bodies of the sabungeros were reportedly dumped.
Fajardo said the bones will be subjected to examination to determine if they are human remains.
If they are, she said they will be cross-matched with the DNA samples earlier taken from the kins of the sabungeros, adding that there is also the possibility that the bones were not from the missing cockfighters.
Fajardo reiterated her appeal to the relatives of the sabungeros to come forward and submit their DNA samples for cross-matching purposes, noting that aside from the cockfighting enthusiasts, the PNP has also received reports of other missing persons.
“So it’s important that they coordinate with us for the identification. They can submit to us DNA samples so we can conduct cross-matching,” she said.
‘RELIEVED’
Meanwhile, a lawyer of gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang yesterday said the businessman was “relieved” by the filing last Friday of multiple murder and serious illegal detention charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ) by the families of the missing sabungeros.
Patidongan has alleged that Ang ordered the kidnapping and killing of the cockfighters between 2021 and 2022 supposedly on suspicions of cheating and game fixing.
Lawyer Gabriel Villareal said his client is ready to face the complaints and maintained that Ang is innocent of the allegations.
“First of all, he’s quite relieved by the formal filing of charges against him. All these (time) para kaming binubugbog sa dilim, hindi namin puwedeng sagutin dahil wala naman kaming nakikita (All these [time], it seemed that we are being attacked in the dark, we cannot answer because we did not know the allegations),” Villareal told ABS-CBN News.
Last Friday, Ryan Bautista, whose brother Michael is among the missing sabungeros, led the filing of criminal charges before the DOJ against Ang, other members of the supposed “Alpha Group,” and several police officers in connection with the abduction and alleged killing of the cockfighting enthusiasts.
Villareal said their camp has yet to receive a copy of the complaint.
“Nevertheless dahil officially binabanggit siya ng DOJ at sinasabing may mga papeles na i-finile laban sa kanya yung mga biktima, nagkaroon kami ng pagkakataon na masagot yung mga akusasyon na ibinabato kay Mr. Ang. We maintain my client’s innocence (Nevertheless, since the complaint has been officially filed with the DOJ, we will now have the chance to answer the accusations being thrown against Mr. Ang. We maintain my client’s innocence),” he said.
The complainants attached the affidavits of Patidongan and his siblings, Jose and Elakim in their complaint.
In his affidavit, Julie claimed that Ang allegedly ordered his brothers, who also worked for the gaming tycoon and supposedly have information regarding the case, to purportedly hide in Cambodia in 2022.
Villareal said Ang is not bothered by Julie Patidongan’s allegations, noting that the whistleblower has so far failed to produce or offer solid evidence that would link him to the case.
He said Julie Patidongan’s testimony is “flawed,” and described the whistleblower as a “master manipulator” who supposedly has a “habit of making unsubstantial allegations.” – With Ashzel Hachero
