Families of the 34 missing cockfighting players (sabungero)have been receiving cash assistance in exchange for giving up their interest to seek justice for their missing kin, the Criminal Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) disclosed on Wednesday, Aug. 24.
CIDG director Police Brig. Gen. Ronald Lee said the condition set by the callers appear to be a payment for the families not to pursue the investigation and the cases that were already filed by the police.
"The CIDG is validating the calls and the numbers used by the callers; however, these numbers could not be reached or contacted anymore," said Lee.
The 34 missing sabungero were reported to have been abducted since 2020, allegedly over game-fixing on online sabong.
The CIDG has so far filed two cases in connection with the incident that include eight respondents, and another five policemen on the case of online sabong master agent Ricardo Lasco who was forcibly taken last year in Laguna.
"We are waiting for the resolution of these two cases by the Department of Justice," said Lee.
Lee also vowed that he would not give up in seeking justice for the missing sabungero.
He said that as soon as he was installed as CIDG director, he immediately called for a case conference last August 17 for updates and developments on the said cases.
"We encourages possible witnesses and those who know about the incident to voluntarily come forward and reveal what they know for the immediate resolution of this case," said Lee.