Three policemen will be charged with kidnapping of one of the missing “sabungeros” (cockfight enthusiasts), the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Monday, Dec. 19.
The DOJ identified those to be charged for the Aug. 30, 2021 kidnapping of Ricardo Lasco as Police Staff Sergeant Daryl G. Paghangaan and Patrolmen Roy M. Navarete and Rigel S. Brosas.
The charges against them will be filed before the regional trial court (RTC) in San Pablo City in Laguna, it said.
“During the preliminary investigation, the Investigating panel finds probable cause against respondents PSSG Paghangaan, PAT Navarete and PAT Brosas for robbery and kidnapping of Lasco,” it said in a statement.
“These respondents were identified by the complainants,” it said.
“For lack of probable cause,” the complaints against their co-respondents had been dismissed, it also said.
It said the preliminary investigation was conducted on the complaints filed by Special Investigation Task Group Sabungero of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).
Quoting from the complaint, the DOJ said: “On 30 August 2021, at around 10:00 o’clock in the morning, complainants Princess Montanez, Gilda V. Montanez, Honey Lyn Sason y Montanez and Elaine Montanez alleged that a group of armed men suddenly entered their residence located at CG Brion Subdivision, Brgy. San Lucas, San Pablo City, Laguna and arrested Ricardo Lasco, in relation to the crime of large scale estafa filed against him. Complainants further alleged that these armed men introduced themselves as NBI operatives. They took several valuables owned by them while they were being held in the living room.”
It said the complaint was dismissed by the San Pablo City Prosecutor’s Office “for insufficiency of evidence.”
It said the Special Investigation Task Group Sabungero “took cognizance of the case and conducted further investigation.”
“According to the CIDG SITG Sabungero, the armed men are members of the Philippine National Police who are involved in the case of several missing ‘sabungeros,’” the DOJ said.
“These armed men involved are PSSG Daryl G. Paghangaan, PAT Roy M. Navarete, PLT Henry S. Sasaluya, PMSG Michael J. Claveria, PAT Rigel S. Brosas and several John Does,” it noted.
During the investigation conducted by the task group, the DOJ said “complainants were shown with several photographs of men, including herein respondents” and among those identified were Paghangan, Navarete and Brosas.
“Thus, criminal cases were filed against said respondents for kidnapping and robbery by a band,” the department said.
Based on reports, the DOJ said that 34 “sabungeros” have gone missing after being allegedly abducted since last year.
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