Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Thursday said he will set another hearing on the case of the missing cockfight enthusiasts since the management and personnel of the cockpit arenas involved in their disappearances failed to attend the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs initial hearing.
Dela Rosa, who heads the public order panel, said he is eager to have these people as resource persons.
“Alam kong hindi natin matapos ito. Mag-schedule pa tayo ng another hearing dahil yung mga gusto kong resource persons na didikdikin ng tanong ay wala dito (I know we won’t be able to finish this. We will schedule another hearing because the resource persons I want to be here so I can ask them are not here),” Dela Rosa said during the hybrid hearing.
“Sana next hearing mag-a-appear sila para lalabas ang katotohanan (I hope next hearing they will appear so the truth will come out),” he said.
According to the senator, the panel invited the security guards, the management of the arena. Though a lawyer represented them, Dela Rosa said he wants the personnel to personally come to the hearing.
“Mas gusto ko na humarap dito yung mga nandoon talaga (I prefer that they appear here, those who were there) during that time of the incident), when the disappearances of those who betted happened inside those arena,” he said.
Among those who testified at the hearing included the father of John Claude Inonog. According to him, his son was last seen at the Manila Arena in Sta. Ana, Manila on January 14, 2022.
Lambert Balanguit Santos, father of Melbert John Santos, another missing person, also testified before the Senate. Police said Melbert was last seen at the United Association of Cockpit Owners and Operators of the Philippines, Inc. in Sta. Cruz, Laguna last January 13, 2022.
Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel, III backed Dela Rosa’s move as he expressed concern over the brazennes of the individual or group behind the disappearances, whom he said seems to project that they are as powerful as the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Pimentel said the committee would not stop until the people responsible for the disappearance of the cockfight enthusiasts were unmasked.
"We cannot allow such a person, a group or a syndicate to continue to exist," Pimentel said.
“I will support any motion in the course of this hearing which will force these people to attend our investigative hearing,” he added.