Accused in missing sabungeros case plead not guilty

Six of the accused in the case of missing sabungeros or cockfighting enthusiasts in Manila pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and serious illegal detention before a Manila court on Thursday.

The accused entered a not guilty plea before the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 40 during the arraignment and pre-trial, which they attended online, Manny Vargas reported on Super Radyo dzBB.

They will face the court again on October 10 for another trial, in which their petition for bail will be discussed.

On September 15, suspects Julie Patidongan, Carlo Zabala, Virgilio Bayog, Roberto Matillano, Jr., Johnry Consolacion, and Gleer Codilla were arrested in Parañaque City.

In January this year, the Department of Justice filed kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges against the six individual before the Manila Regional Trial Court.

The Manila Arena case or "Case 1" is one of the eight cases involving missing sabungeros being investigated by the CIDG through Special Investigation Task Group Sabungero.

Under Case 1, six persons John Claude Inonog, Rondel Cristorum, Mark Joseph Velasco, Rowel Gomez, and brothers James Baccay and Marlon Baccay went missing on January 13, 2022 at Manila Arena.

The arrested suspects were speaking sparingly about the case, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo was asked if the six arrested suspects confirmed that the missing sabungeros were still alive.

“Matipid po iyong pananalita nitong anim na ito. Kagaya ng sinabi ko kanina, Saturday pa lamang ay may lumutang na po na lawyer sa kanila para i-assist,” Fajardo said.

(The six suspects were speaking sparingly about the case. Like what I have said earlier, as early as Saturday, a lawyer already showed up to assist them.)

“Nagbanggit nga itong, accordingly, si Mr. Patidongan na sinabi na nasa korte na iyong kaso at haharapin na lamang po nila at doon sila sasagot dito sa mga akusasyon na sinampa sa kanila,” Fajardo added.

(One of the suspects Mr. Patidongan said that the case is already in court and that they will face the case and answer to the accusations there.) —NB, GMA Integrated News