DOJ announces P6M reward for suspects’ arrest over missing ‘sabungeros’
JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla announced last February 13, 2023 that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is offering a P6-million reward for the information that would lead to the arrest of six suspects in the disappearance of cockfight aficionados (sabungeros).
In a statement, Remulla said the manhunt for the six other suspects in the case of missing “sabungeros” is ongoing.
“Sa kasalukuyan ay ipinagpapatuloy natin ang malawakang paghahanap sa 6 pang sangkot sa pagkawala ng mga sabungero kung kaya’t iniaalok natin ang P6-M halaga ng pabuya para sa makakapagturo at makakapagsabi kung saan nagtatago ang mga suspek,” Remulla said in his social media post.
The DoJ chief’s offer of reward was announced after meeting with the families of missing “sabungeros” at the DOJ last February 13, 2023.
“Makakaasa ang bawat naulilang pamilya na ginagawa natin ang lahat upang mabigyan ng hustisya ang pagkawala ng kanilang mga mahal sa buhay maging ang pagsugpo sa mga ganitong klaseng krimen,” Remulla told the families during the meeting.
Some 2 years after the still mysterious controversy erupted, Remulla, in an earlier media interview, expressed the view that none of the victims is still alive.
“With the help of the police, we have informed the families of the victim about the arrest of three more perpetrators of this crime,” he said.
The three were identified as Police Staff Sergeant Daryl G. Paghangaan and former Police Patrolmen Roy M. Navarete and Rigel S. Brosas. They were already charged with kidnapping, serious illegal detention and robbery with violence.
The PNPs-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said it has an idea about the mastermind in the disappearance of at least 34 cockfight enthusiasts.
CIDG chief, P/Brig. Gen Romeo Caramat Jr., speaking to reporters after the case conference on missing sabungeros at the DOJ on the same day, said they are looking into one group of suspects who orchestrated the kidnapping.
He said that they already have an idea on the mastermind, but as primary investigating agency of the PNP, he said they don’t want to file cases that would only be dismissed.
“We believe that they are the ones who perpetrated all these cases. So, when they are caught, all the cases we are investigating would be solved,” said Caramat.
Also charged with the three arrested suspects but remains at large were, Julie A. Patidongan, Gleer Codilla, Mark Carlo E. Zabala, Virgilio P. Bayog, Johnry R. Consolacion, and Roberto G. Matillano Jr.
