Estomo sacks, places 11 cops under restrictive custody over missing 'sabungeros'
Metro Manila police chief Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo has ordered the relief of 11 policemen who were charged by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for their alleged involvement in the case of missing cockfighting players, or referred to as "missing sabungeros".
Estomo said the 11 police officers assigned to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) need to be booted out of their posts due to the gravity of the offense that they were accused of committing, adding that they were also placed under restrictive custody.
"We in the NCRPO guarantee that we will never tolerate any form of flagrant violation of human rights, law and order," said Estomo.
He identified those relieved as former NCRPO Regional Drug Enforcement Unit chief Police Lt. Col. Ryan Orapa; Police Lt. Jesus Menez; Police Staff Sgts. Ronald Lanaria, Ronald Montibon, Troy Paragas, Roy Pioquinito, Robert Raz Jr; and, Police Corporals Christal Rosita, Denar Roda,Alric Natividad and Ruscel Solomon.
The NBI charged them with kidnapping and serious illegal detention as well as violation of the Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act in connection with the disappearance of cockfighting players in Cavite.
More than 34 cockfighting sabungeros disappeared since last year and initial investigation revealed that the series of incidents stemmed from allegations of cheating in online sabong.
All the missing victims are yet to be accounted for.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has filed cases against eight people in connection with the disappearance of six cockfighting players at the Manila Arena in January this year.
It said they were also preparing for separate cases against separate persons, including policemen, for the incident involving Ricardo Lasco, an online sabong agent who was forcibly taken from his house in Laguna.
In its latest update, the CIDG revealed that there were attempts by some groups and individuals to offer money to the relatives of the missing sabungeros in exchange for the dropping of the cases.
Estomo for his part said they are bent on bringing justice to the family of the victims.
"Rest assured that we will cooperate and will not condone any form of lawlessness committed by our men regardless of rank and designation should it be established following due investigation by competent authorities," said Estomo.