THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has completed the evaluation of the missing “sabungeros’ (cockfighting enthusiasts) cases, and state prosecutors are now preparing to issue subpoenas for the conduct of the preliminary investigation.
Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon said the date for the preliminary investigation will be set by the panel of prosecutors that would handle the probe.
“The evaluation of the cases pertaining to the missing sabungeros have been completed and it will now be subjected to preliminary investigation. Subject to the receipt by the panel of the records, subpoenas will be issued for the conduct of the preliminary investigation on dates to be determined by the panel,” Fadullon told reporters when sought for an update on case.
He, however, declined to provide details when asked if gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang will be named as a respondent.
“No details can be released just yet in deference to the panel that will conduct the investigation,” he said.
Ang was tagged by suspect-turned-whistleblower Julie “Totoy” Patidongan as the alleged mastermind in the abduction and killing of the sabungeros who have been missing since 2021.
Patidongan was one of the six suspects charged before a Manila regional trial court for abduction and serious illegal detention for the disappearance of six sabungeros, who were last seen at the Manila Arena in 2022.
The six missing cockfight enthusiasts are John Claude Inonog, Rondel Cristorum, Mark Joseph Velasco, Rowel Gomez, and brothers James Baccay and Marlon Baccay.
Patidongan said the bodies of the sabungeros have been dumped in Taal Lake, prompting Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) technical divers to conduct extensive search and recovery operations since last month
Ang has denied the allegations and has filed a damage suit against Patidongan before the Mandaluyong prosecutors office.
The families of the sabungeros have filed multiple murders, serious illegal detention, direct bribery and obstruction of justice charges against Ang before the DOJ.
HUMAN REMAINS
Justice Assistant Secretary Eliseo Cruz, in a briefing at the House Committee on Human Rights, said PCG divers have recovered 401 pieces of human skeletal remains from the Taal Lake from July 10 up to present, but not a single piece of bone has so far matched the DNA samples of the victims’ relatives.
Citing data from the PNP Forensic Group, Cruz told lawmakers that the remains were recovered from 17 different locations.
“The recovered sacks containing the human skeletal remains are usually tied to or attached to sacks of sand that served as sinkers. Each sinker sandbag is of the size (of a) 25-kilogram rice sack,” he said.
Cruz however said that so far, not even one bone fragment has matched the DNA samples of the victims’ relatives.
PNP Forensic Group Director Brig. Gen. Danilo Bacas told the panel that only 163 skeletal remains have been cross-matched with DNA samples from the victims’ 29 relatives since the rest of the bones have already deteriorated.
Rep. Leila de Lima (PL, ML) told the DOJ, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the PNP to do everything to catch the “big fish” behind the killings.
“I just wish to express here that I hope the investigation being made by both NBI and PNP actually cover big fish or influential or big personalities allegedly involved, as revealed by whistleblower Patidongan,” she said, to which PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director Police Brig. Gen. Christopher Abrahano replied: “Mr. Chair, on behalf of the [PNP], I give the full commitment of the agency in pursuing this investigation until the end.” – With Wendell Vigilia
