Six persons are set to be charged in court by the Department of Justice (DOJ) for their alleged involvement in the kidnapping of six “sabungeros” or cockfight enthusiasts.
In a press statement, the DOJ identified those to be charged with six counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code as Julie A. Patidongan, Gleer Codilla, Mark Carlo E. Zabala, Virgilio P. Bayog, Johnry R. Consolacion, and Roberto G. MAtillano Jr.
It said the charges are set to be filed before the Manila regional trial court (RTC) for the kidnapping and illegal detention of John Claude Inonog, James E. Baccay, Marlon E. Baccay, Rondel F. Cristorum, Mark Joseph L. Velasco, and Rowel G. Gomez.
The DOJ said the six victims left Tanay in Rizal for Manila Arena at around 1:00 am on Jan. 13, 2022 to join the six-cock stag derby.”
“The victims, unfortunately, were forced to board a gray van at around 7:30 pm and were never to be seen again,” it added.
In finding probable cause to charge Patidongan’s group, the DOJ said its panel of prosecutors “gave scant consideration to the defense of the respondents in light of the positive identification and credible testimonies of the complainants’ witnesses.”
It cited the testimony of one of the complainants, Venancio Inonog, the father of John Claude. It said Venancio testified that “he was able to talk via phone call with his son who informed him that they were forced to board a gray van against their will.”
The father said his son “was able to identify respondents Bayog, Consolacion and Matillano,” during the phone conversation, it said.
“Moreover, Venancio heard a lot of screaming before the line went off,” it also said.
Thereafter, the DOJ said that Venancio “repeatedly called his son, however the cellphone was already turned off.”
It said that “Denmark B. Sinfuego, another witness, narrated that he saw respondents Patidongan, Codilla, Zabala, Bayog, Consolacion and Matillano Jr. capture the victims Cristorum, Gomez, and Velasco.”
The testimonies of witnesses and other evidence presented during the preliminary investigation led the panel to file the criminal charges, it added.
Earlier, the DOJ prosecutors have decided to file kidnapping and robbery charges against three policemen for the Aug. 30, 2021 kidnapping in Laguna of Ricardo Lasco, a master agent of online cockfighting or e-sabong.
The DOJ identified the respondent-policemen as Police Staff Sergeant Daryl G. Paghangaan, and Patrolmen Roy M. Navarete and Rigel S. Brosas.
TAGS: #DOJ #Missing ‘Sabungeros’