2 witnesses testify at bail hearing in missing sabungeros case

Two witnesses testified at the hearing on Tuesday on the bail petition of the six accused in the case of the missing sabungeros before a Manila court, according to prosecutors.

In an ambush interview, prosecutors said Patrolwoman Rea Mae Duque and former Manila Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Wilfredo Fabros testified before the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 40.

The prosecutors did not give details on the proceedings but said that the witnesses identified all the documents submitted in the case.

Meanwhile, they said the accused Julie Patidongan, Carlo Zabala, Virgilio Bayog, Roberto Matillano, Jr., Johnry Consolacion, and Gleer Codill attended the hearing through video conference.

According to prosecutors, they also asked to require another witness to attend the next hearing on Thursday.

On September 21, the six accused pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges.

The Manila Arena case or "Case 1" involves the disappearance of John Claude Inonog, Rondel Cristorum, Mark Joseph Velasco, Rowel Gomez, and brothers James Baccay and Marlon Baccay on January 13, 2022. —VBL, GMA Integrated News