MANILA – In a move signaling intensified efforts to crack down on alleged police involvement in one of the country’s most disturbing disappearances in recent years, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has placed 15 of its officers under restrictive custody at Camp Crame for their suspected links to missing sabungeros (cock derby enthusiasts).
Among those detained is a police lieutenant colonel, PNP chief General Nicolas Torre III confirmed, adding that the officers are facing both criminal and administrative charges in connection with the high-profile case.
“We have partnered with Napolcom (National Police Commission) for the in-depth investigation of this case to ensure transparency and impartiality and to ensure the ends of justice will be achieved,” Torre said.
Torre also emphasized that the scope of the investigation is widening and more individuals may be implicated.
“As I have said earlier, we will not stop at 15 police officers. There are other personalities that will be identified as the investigation goes on,” he noted. “These incidents are grisly, not acceptable by any standards and that’s why we have firm resolve to solve this.”
Authorities are also exploring multiple sites where the bodies of the victims may have been dumped. Taal Lake, previously identified as one such location, is no longer believed to be the only one.
“Based on our information, Taal is not the only place of disposal. We are looking into other places as a disposal area of the missing victims,” Torre said.
He also revealed that whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan, alias “Totoy,” began cooperating with the police while Torre was still head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
“What is important now is to give justice to the victims and to cleanse the organization of these kinds of personnel,” Torre stressed.
Patidongan earlier implicated businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang, claiming he masterminded the abductions and killings of the cockfighters, allegedly with the help of police officers on his payroll. Ang has denied the accusations and filed a P300-million extortion complaint against Patidongan on July 3.
The disappearances of sabungeros across the country since 2021 have sparked public outrage and intensified scrutiny of the PNP’s internal accountability mechanisms./PN
