Fingerprint analysis on vehicle in missing sabungeros case took weeks –kin

It took weeks for authorities to conduct fingerprint analysis on the vehicle in which the missing online cockfighting or “e-sabong” enthusiasts were last seen, their relatives said.

According to Emil Sumangil’s report on “24 Oras”, the vehicle was found in Tanay, Rizal a day after the missing sabungeros suddenly disappeared following a visit to a cockpit arena in Manila.

“Nung inano namin 'yung...nag-request kami ng SOCO dito sa bayan parang days pa bago na-towing 'yung sasakyan. Tapos weeks pa bago nai-travel na naman 'yung FX papunta sa Taytay. Doon sa mismong SOCO po. Tapos ilang weeks pa rin kami nag-intay bago sa result...tapos 'yung result lang po is negative,” Janina Pilarta, partner of victim John Claude Inonog said.

(When we requested the SOCO here in our town to conduct an analysis, it took days for them to tow the car. Then weeks to take it to Taytay then to SOCO. It took weeks again for the results to be released… but they said it was negative.)

Pilarta said her partner’s personal belongings were found inside the UV Express vehicle but a Philippine National Police Scene of Crime Operations (PNP-SOCO) report to the Tanay, Rizal Police said it did not find any fingerprints in the vehicle.

GMA News asked the provincial police for their comment on relatives’ complaints. Its newly-installed chief said he would order an investigation on the issue and discuss it with the complainants afterward.

Meanwhile, the kin of the missing sabungeros appealed to the Justice Department to expedite the release of the resolution on their case.

They also sought help from the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) who vowed to extend assistance.

“I am calling the Office of the President and the leadership ng PNP na malaking challenge to, hamon po sa inyo. Na 44 missing persons na wala tayong makita kahit isa. After the Senate investigation, saan pupunta ang PNP? Only in the Philippines. Nakakahiya po tayo,” said VACC President Arsenio Evangelista.

(I am calling the Office of the President and the PNP leadership because this is a great challenge. Forty-four people are missing and we cannot locate any of them. After the Senate investigation, where will the police go? Only in the Philippines. It is embarrassing.)

Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento, for his part, said the resolution on the case would soon be issued.

“Still submitted for resolution. It will not be long, we will resolve it accordingly,” said Malcontento in a message to GMA News. — Sundy Locus/DVM, GMA News