Why tracker teams only now, say missing sabungeros' kin

The kin of the missing online cockfighting or e-sabong enthusiasts on Wednesday expressed dismay over the supposed delay in the formation of tracker teams that would pursue the suspects linked in the sudden disappearance of their relatives.

In Emil Sumangil’s report on “24 Oras”, Eloisa Bohol — mother of victim Kiel Bohol — questioned why it took so long for the teams to be established.

“Ngayon pa lang sila nagbubuo ng tracker teams para sa kaso namin eh samantalang sabi ni Senator Bato [dela Rosa] kailangan tutukan ang kaso namin. Parang ngayon lang nila tututukan,” she said.

(They just formed the tracker teams when Senator Bato dela Rosa said they should focus on our case. It seems like they are moving just now.)

Maria Cristina Ignacio, wife of victim Mark Joseph Ignacio, expressed a similar sentiment and said: “Wow! Ilang beses na kaming nag-CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) conference at DOJ (Department of Justice) tapos ngayon pa lang sila gagawa ng team para sa mga nawawalang tao?”

(Wow! We attended numerous CIDG and DOJ conferences and yet they would only create the team now?)

The sabungeros have been missing for around two years but no suspects have been arrested in the case.

Last week, DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said tracker teams will be established to search for the whereabouts of suspects Julie Patidongan, Gleer Codilla, Mark Carlo Zabala, Virgilio Bayog, Johnry Consolacion, and Roberto Matillano Jr. who have been issued arrest warrants for kidnapping and serious illegal detention in February 2022.

The victims’ families appealed for clarity on the status of their case.

“Paikot-ikot lang siya, pupunta ka duon, maga-update, mangangako. Parang ganun na lang ang nangyayari. Sana naman sa susunod, may maganda nang balita. Parang ganito, ‘oh meron kaming nahuli’,” Bohol said.

(It’s just a cycle. We go there, they’ll give updates and make promises. That’s just how it goes. We hope that next time they’ll give us good news like ‘here, we arrested someone’.)

“Sa atin pong Pangulo, nakikiusap po kami…Ang kailangan namin peace of mind. Hindi magawa namin kung ano ang nararapat, pagluluksa ba o ano ang dapat namin gawin sa pamilya namin,” said Teresa Japag, wife of victim Nerio Antecristo.

(We appeal to our President to help us. What we need is peace of mind. We want to do the proper thing whether to grieve or not.)

GMA Integrated News reached out to the DOJ and the PNP for their comment but they earlier said they are exerting efforts to resolve the case.—Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA Integrated News