Some of arrested suspects in missing sabungeros case ‘willing to talk’ — Acorda

Some of the six arrested suspects in the case of missing sabungeros are willing to divulge further information on the matter, according to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Benjamin Acorda.

"There are some indications ‘yung iba willing na magsalita, but ayaw lang natin pangunahan," Acorda said on the sidelines of the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

"Hintayin na lang natin ang resulta, and anything that they will say is, of course, it needs the assistance of a lawyer para ito ay matatanggap sa korte," the PNP chief said.

Suspects Julie Patidongan, Carlo Zabala, Virgilio Bayog, Roberto Matillano, Jr., Johnry Consolacion, and Gleer Codilla, were arrested on Friday in Parañaque City after the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group located their whereabouts through an informant and following a two-month surveillance operation.

Acorda expressed hope that the arrested suspects would reveal the mastermind behind the alleged abduction of sabungeros.

"Well, as of now, ‘yung mastermind tinitingnan natin and the pinaka-effective that could connect to the mastermind are the suspects mismo. So I am hoping sila magsasalita," he said.

"May mga insinuations but nothing definite," he added.

The families of missing sabungeros John Claude Inonog, Rondel Cristorum, Mark Joseph Velasco, Rowel Gomez, and brothers James Baccay and Marlon Baccay filed formal complaints against the six security officers at the Manila Arena over their disappearance in January 2022.

Complaints for six counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention were filed on March 18, 2022, against the six suspects before the Department of Justice.

The CIDG also filed a separate case for kidnapping and serious illegal detention in connection with the disappearance of the missing online sabong master agent Ricardo Lasco, who was reportedly abducted on August 30, 2021, in San Pablo, Laguna.   

Three former policemen linked to the kidnapping of Lasco have already surrendered.

The DOJ in January 2023 filed kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges against six individuals allegedly involved in the disappearance of six sabungeros before the Manila Regional Trial Court.

The families, however, withdrew from the cases last month, prompting the kin of other victims to express disappointment.

''We have been hearing reports that there were attempts to really bribe ‘yung mga witnesses,'' Acorda said. 

"Kung ang mangyari kapag hindi nahuli nitong mga ito baka this is an exercise of futility kapag wala tayong nahuli but with this development magkakaroon ng direction ang investigation and hopefully this will convince or magiging dedicated yung ibang witnesses and yung mga ibang mga reluctant ay lalong magpupursige," he added. 

Acorda called on those with vital information to cooperate with authorities.

"Those who have vital information that will help us puwede po lumabas and lumantad and  the police force is giving the assurance tayo ay magbibigay ng karapat dapat na protection para sa kanila para maging safe naman sila if ever they will come out in the open," the PNP chief said. —VBL, GMA Integrated News