Case of missing sabungeros getting clearer
With this development, the investigation will have a direction and hopefully this will convince, or this would encourage other witnesses to come out and provide information.
Daily TribuneWith this development, the investigation will have a direction and hopefully this will convince, or this would encourage other witnesses to come out and provide information.
The latest arrests on the six suspects in the case of missing sabungeros will give the Philippine National Police investigation a direction to its mastermind.
This was how PNP Chief P/Gen. Benjamin Acorda viewed the latest development to an almost three-year case that somehow would lead to the identification of the mastermind and others responsible to the crime.
"With this development, the investigation will have a direction and hopefully this will convince, or this would encourage other witnesses to come out and provide information," Acorda said when he guested at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.
Acorda was referring to the arrest of security guards Julie Patidongan, Gleer Codilla, Mark Carlo Zabala, Virgilio Bayog, Johnry Consolacion and Roberto Matillano Jr. in two safehouses in Parañaque City.
He said they are also hopeful that the arrest of six suspects will convince, or encourage other witnesses to provide information.
The chief PNP also hinted that some of the six arrested suspects are willing to divulge further information on the matter.
Acorda said they are hoping that the suspects would cooperate in the investigation for the PNP to finally identify and file charges against the mastermind and other suspects.
"The most effective way to connect the mastermind is the suspects themselves. So I am hoping that they will talk," Acorda said.
The suspects were arrested on Friday in Parañaque City after the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group located their whereabouts through an informant and following a two-month surveillance operation.
The six suspects were former security guards of the Manila Arena and we're listed as respondents for six counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention in connection with the abduction of six cockfighting players.
Acorda said two other people were collared and are now facing obstruction of justice for providing shelter to the six suspects.
The abduction at the Manila Arena was among the series of cases of kidnapping of 34 cockfighting players. Police earlier said the kidnapping was related to allegations of game-fixing for online sabong during the Covid-19 pandemic.
On the other end, the families of missing sabungeros John Claude Inonog, Rondel Cristorum, Mark Joseph Velasco, Rowel Gomez, and brothers James Baccay and Marlon Baccay filed formal complaints against the six security officers at the Manila Arena over their disappearance in January 2022.
Complaints for six counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention were filed on 18 March 2022, against the six suspects before the Department of Justice.