CIDG ready in case court reissues arrest warrant over missing sabungeros

The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) is ready in case a Manila court reissues an arrest warrant for the suspects behind the missing sabungeros, its chief said Friday.

“Alam naman namin kung nasaan sila,” PNP-CIDG chief Major General Nicolas Torre III said in an ambush interview at the Department of Justice (DOJ).

(We know where they are.)

“Although, I'm sure na magtatago ang mga ‘yan. Although, we're also hoping na sumurrender sila at harapin sa korte ang kanilang mga kaso,” he added.

(Although, I’m sure that they will go into hiding. Although, we’re also hoping that they would surrender to face the court for their cases.)

On Thursday, the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 41 dismissed the motion of the DOJ to cancel the bail and to reissue arrest warrants for the suspects.

For its part, the prosecution said that they are reviewing a resolution to file a motion for reconsideration.

Meanwhile, Torre said that the investigation on the missing sabungeros is ongoing. He said they are looking for evidence and witnesses.

He also encouraged families to not lose hope.

“Huwag po kayong mawalan ng pagasa diyan at huwag din po kayong maging jaded sa mga ginagawa sapagkat ganon lang talaga ang imbestigasyon. Medyo mabagal, may kaunting time na kinakain talaga ‘yan,” Torre said.

(Don’t lose hope and don’t become jaded because that is just how the investigation is. It’s sometimes slow. Time is needed.)

“Pero sa ngayon naman we’re doing our best. We’re doing the best that we can do as of the moment sa pag-iimbestiga nito,” he added.

(But right now, we’re doing our best. We’re doing our best that we can do as of the moment for this investigation.)

Six accused are facing six counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention over the disappearance of sabungeros John Claude Inonog, Rondel Cristorum, Mark Joseph Velasco, Rowel Gomez, and brothers James Baccay and Marlon Baccay.

The sabungeros left Tanay, Rizal at 1 p.m. on January 13, 2022, to go to the Manila Arena but were forced to board a gray van around 7:30 p.m. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News