NBI offers forensic aid in probe of missing sabungeros

Forensic assistance is being offered by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in the ongoing probe into the disappearance of several cockfighters, some of whom have been missing since 2021.

This was according to NBI Director Jaime Santiago, who said the bureau is willing to conduct DNA testing if any skeletal remains are recovered during the investigation.

"Yes, I am volunteering, if they need our forensic expertise. I’m very willing to extend our help," Santiago said.

Santiago explained that the NBI can perform DNA tests and cross-match any recovered remains with samples from relatives who have come forward.

"We will be able to identify them—even if it's just bones, even if the remains are in fragments. As long as we get a sample we can cross-match with those provided by the complainants, we can establish their identity," he said.

The case of the missing cockfighters has drawn national attention, with families still seeking answers years after their loved ones vanished under suspicious circumstances linked to e-sabong operations.