Atong Ang to help investigation on missing 'sabungeros,' says PNP spox

Police investigators are coordinating with gaming tycoon Atong Ang in the investigation into the missing "sabungeros" or cockfighting enthusiasts, Police Colonel Jean Fajardo, spokesperson for the Philippine National Police (PNP), said Friday.

Interviewed on Dobol B TV, Fajardo said investigation by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) showed that the arenas where the missing persons engaged in cockfighting games are run by WPC, which she said is associated with Ang.

"Yung CIDG director po, no less than Major General Albert Ferro, ay nakipag-meeting na po kay Ginoong Atong Ang para nga po magbigay linaw dito sa ginagawang investigation," she said.

(CIDG director  Major General Albert Ferro has me with Mr. Atong Ang in order to shed light on the investigation.)

According to Fajardo, Ang committed to assist the CIDG in its investigation. She said some of Ang's men, including his security personnel, already gave their accounts to the investigators.

Dead or alive?

As for the fate of the missing "sabungeros," Fajardo said they have yet to determine if they were still alive or already dead.

“Sa ngayon po, wala po tayong concrete evidence na talagang makakapagsabi kung sila po ba ay buhay o patay. Umaasa pa rin tayo na buhay pa po sila,” she said.

(Right now, we don't have concrete evidence to say if they are alive or dead. We are hoping they are still alive.)

The PNP earlier said it has identified some persons of interest linked to the disappearance of cockfight enthusiasts from different areas.

29 all in all

On Thursday, CIDG public information office chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Sawan said the number of reported missing cockfight enthusiasts is now at 29.

The PNP initially reported an incident involving four men who were reported missing after participating in a cockfight game in Sta. Cruz, Laguna, on January 13.

That same day, six men also went missing after participating in a cockfighting tournament in Manila.

When the CIDG investigation started, more reports of missing cockfight enthusiasts came in, like the 10 individuals in Bulacan who disappeared eight months ago and also went to the same arena in Sta. Cruz. —KBK, GMA News