After 3 years, kin of 6 missing sabungeros still seeking justice

After more than three years, the families of six missing sabungeros from Bulacan are still seeking justice  since they were first reported missing in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

According to Emil Sumangil’s exclusive report in 24 Oras on Tuesday, the families of Glenn Germar, Kiel Bohol, Mark Joseph Ignacio, Romualdo Diano, Eric Legaspi, and Nerio Antecristo are asking the Department of Justice to look into their cases.

Marlyn Germar, Glenn’s mother, said the issue has caused so much stress that it has affected her health.

“Hindi maganda, halos sakit ang nakuha ko, nagka-heart failure na ako sa kakaisip sa anak ko gabi-gabi,” she said. “Hindi kami umaatras, itutuloy namin ang laban. Hindi kami natatakot sa kanila kahit ma pera sila.”

(It has not been good, I got sick, I had heart failure because I’m always thinking about my son every night…We will not back down, we will continue the fight. We will not be intimidated because of their money.)

The victims’ kin are puzzled as to why their complaints have not reached the prosecutor’s office and the Philippine National- Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group has not been able to arrest any of the accused in the case.

“Nasa kanila po ang mga ebidensiya namin eh. May mga video po doon na talagang sa sabungan nawala,” said Marlyn.

(They have our evidence. There’s a video that shows that they went missing at the arena.)

“Pati yung gate pass, hindi pa rin tinanggap eh, hindi raw matibay na ebidensya…Hindi pa ba ebidensya na sa mismong sabungan nawala?”

(They don’t even recognize the gate pass as strong evidence…Is it not strong evidence that they went missing at the arena?)

Meanwhile, Theresa Hapag, Nerio’s, showed a video of her husband which proves that he was at the cockpit arena before he disappeared.

“Lagi kaming humihingi ng update, pero nasaan kayo? Parang nagbibingi-bingihan niyo lang kami. Huwag naman sanang ganyan, maawa naman po kayo sa amin,” she said.

(We always ask for updates, but where are they? It seems our cries for help only fell on deaf ears. Please have pity on us.)

“Trabaho ba namin na maghanap ng ebidensya? Dapat sila ang naghahanap para sa amin kasi sa kanila kami naka depende,” said Eloisa Bohol, mother of Kiel.

(Is it our job to gather evidence? They should be the ones looking for those because we are depending on them.)

The DOJ earlier said the family of missing e-sabong master agent JonJon Lasco withdrew their case against several cops involved in the kidnapping.

But the family of the six missing sabungeros remain firm in their fight.

“Wala po sa bokabularyo naming umatras. Paano kami aatras eh hanggang ngayon wala pa rin silang binibigay na linaw sa amin,” said Eloisa.

(It’s not in our vocabulary to give up. How can we back down now especially since they have yet to shed light on the case.)

GMA Integrated News has reached out to the Justice Department for comment.

Meanwhile, the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 40 continued the hearing on the kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges against six guards in connection to the abduction of seven sabungeros from Tanay, Rizal who went to a derby tournament at the Manila Arena. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News