Lawyer seeks submission of affidavits vs Patidongan in sabungeros case

The camp of a police officer implicated in the case of the missing sabungeros on Friday appealed to Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Nicolas Torre III to direct the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to submit to the Department of Justice (DOJ) the affidavits filed by 10 complainants against whistleblower Julie "Dondon" Patidongan.

Lawyer Bernard Vitriolo, legal counsel of Police Staff Master Sergeant Joey Encarnacion, said that on 3 August 2025, he wrote a letter to CIDG Chief Police Brigadier General Christopher Abrahano requesting copies of the affidavits filed by ten individuals who are associates or employees of Patidongan.

"Hinahanap natin ang mga affidavits na ito para i-submit sana sa evaluating team ng DOJ para maging patas at kompleto ang kanilang imbestigasyon sa nasabing kaso," Vitriolo told reporters in an interview in Pasig City on Friday.

According to Vitriolo, the affidavits were not included in the case folder or submitted to the DOJ for evaluation.

In the affidavits, the complainants claimed that it was the Patidongan siblings who were behind the missing sabungeros.

"Ito ay nasa CIDG ngunit napag-alaman namin na hindi ito isinama case folder papunta sa DOJ para ito ay makasama sa evaluation in accordance with the Department Circular No. 20," Vitriolo said.

"We must remember that clearly sinasabi doon sa Department Circular No. 20 na pag nagsampa ka ng kaso e-evaluate muna ito para magkaroon ng determination kung meron itong prima facie evidence at meron reasonable certainty o conviction," he added.

Vitriolo stressed that the DOJ and the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) were already prejudging the case despite no formal filing yet.

"Wala pa pong sinasampang kaso, nasa evaluation stage pa lang tayo, eh ganon na po ang unfair and biased pronouncement ng DOJ," he said.

On Monday, NAPOLCOM imposed a 90-day preventive suspension on 12 police officers in connection with the investigation into the sabungeros' disappearances.

Aside from Encarnacion, the suspended officers include:

• Police Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Jay Eliab Orapa

• Police Major Mark Philip Simborio Almedilla

• Police Executive Master Sergeant Aaron Ezrah Lagahit Cabillan

• Police Chief Master Sergeant Arturo Opalla Dela Cruz Jr.

• Police Staff Master Sergeant Mark Anthony Aguilo Manrique

• Police Staff Master Sergeant Anderson Orozco Abary

• Police Staff Sergeant Alfredo Uy Andes

• Police Staff Sergeant Edmon Hernandez Muñoz

• Police Corporal Angel Joseph Ferro Martin

• Police Staff Sergeant Renan Lagrosa Fulgencio

• Police Colonel Jacinto Rodriguez Malinao Jr.

On 14 July, Patidongan and the families of the missing sabungeros filed a complaint-affidavit against police officers allegedly linked to the disappearances.