DOJ indicts 6 individuals for kidnapping, illegal detention of 6 sabungeros

The Department of Justice will file kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges against six individuals in connection with the disappearance of six cockfighting enthusiasts in January.

In a resolution promulgated on December 22, the DOJ panel of prosecutors found probable cause to indict farm manager Julie Patidongan, Gleer Codilla, Mark Carlo Zabala, Virgilio Bayog, Johnry Consolacion, and Roberto Matillano Jr.

The information will be filed with the Manila City regional trial court.

According to the DOJ, the panel found that the six conspired in the kidnapping of John Claude Inonog, James Baccay, Marlon Baccay, Rondel Cristorum, Mark Joseph Velasco, and Rowel Gomez on January 13.

The sabungeros left Tanay, Rizal at 1 p.m. to go to the Manila Arena but were forced to board a gray van at around 7:30 p.m.

For their part, the respondents denied their participation in the disappearance of the sabungeros. They also argued that the witnesses had no personal knowledge of the alleged crime.

However, the DOJ said the panel gave consideration to the defense due to the positive identification and testimonies of the witnesses.

The DOJ cited Venancio Inonog, the father of one of the victims, who said his son told him through a phone call that they were forced to board a gray van.

Venancio said he also heard screaming before the call was cut off.

The DOJ earlier announced that it will file charges against three members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in connection with the disappearance of an e-sabong agent Ricardo Lasco on August 30, 2021.

It said the information against Police Staff Sergeant Daryl Panghangaan, Patrolman Roy Navarete, and Patrolman Rigel Brosas for robbery and kidnapping will be filed at the San Pablo City Regional Trial Court.

On Monday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said “dead" may be a more precise term to describe the 34 missing sabungeros.

For its part, the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said the sabungeros are still considered missing.

In an ambush interview, Remulla doubled down on his previous remark that the sabungeros may already be dead, saying this is to avoid confusion among cases that will be filed.

"As we know, the probability of them coming out is very low, very small. Let’s face the truth no. Katotohanan lang naman 'yan. That’s the presumption that most of us who know how these things work will think about,” he said.

“Hopefully, mali ako. Hopefully, I’m wrong. I want to be wrong,” he added.

Meanwhile, Remulla again warned against double jeopardy when asked about the release of other resolutions to the cases.

“I’m not pressuring anybody because gusto natin hinog na hinog mga kaso. Kasi alam ninyo naman double jeopardy will set in pag na-acquit kahit sinong chinarge mo diyan kaya ayaw natin mag aksaya ng pagkakataon,” he said.

(I’m not pressuring anybody because we want the case to be really ripe. Because you know double jeopardy will set in once anyone we charged will be acquitted so we don’t want to waste any chances.)

Under the rule of double jeopardy, when a person is charged with an offense and the case is terminated either by acquittal or conviction or in any other manner without the consent of the accused, the latter cannot again be charged with the same or identical offense.—AOL, GMA Integrated News