Still no credible lead on whereabouts of 34 missing 'sabungeros' —PNP

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday said there is still no credible lead yet on the whereabouts of the 34 cockfight enthusiasts or "sabungero" who have been missing since last year.

“Wala pa rin po tayong credible lead, na matibay na ebidensya na maaaring makapagturo po sa atin nasaan ba ‘yung whereabouts nitong 34 missing sabungeros,” PNP  spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said in an interview on GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita.

(We still have no credible lead or strong evidence that would point us to the whereabouts of the 34 missing sabungeros.)

At present, the police are talking to witnesses who could provide information on the location of the missing persons, although many of them are fearing for their lives, Fajardo said.

On Thursday, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) released composite sketches of two suspects in the disappearance of Michael Bautista, one of the 34 missing, in Sta, Cruz, Laguna.

One of these suspects was identified as “Dondon,” who is also being linked to the cases of several missing cockfight enthusiasts in Manila.

One group

Fajardo said the police are now looking into the possibility that there is only one group behind the disappearances of the 34.

“Ito ngayon po ang tinitignan natin na iisang grupo 'yung possible na may kinalaman dito sa pagkawala nito dahil nga po si Alyas Dondon na isa din po ito doon sa mga nakasuhan particularly sa kaso po na ng mga nawawalang sabungero particularly diyan sa Manila Arena,” she said.

(This is what we are looking into, that only one group was involved in the disappearances because Alias Dondon was also among the respondents in the complaints filed for the missing sabungeros from Manila Arena.)

Initially, complaints were filed against eight identified persons and several John Does involved in the Manila Arena case, and against five police personnel and their cohorts in the Ricardo Lasco kidnapping  case early this year, the CIDG said. —KBK, GMA Integrated News