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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Go: Law enforcers should be more proactive in the case of the missing 34 'sabungeros'

Go: Law enforcers should be more proactive in the case of the missing 34 'sabungeros'

Published Mar 10, 2022 11:50 am

Senator Christopher ’’Bong’’ Go said on Thursday, March 9 that law enforcement should have been more proactive in dealing with the matter of the missing 34 ‘sabungeros’ (cockfight aficionados).

Go, chairman of the Senate health and demography committee, issued the statement after reiterating President Duterte's call for a comprehensive investigation into the case of at least 34 missing e-sabong players by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

In a related development, the Senate public order and dangerous drugs committee, suspended its impending resumption of the probe into the missing 34 ‘sabungeros’ pending updates coming from the Criminal investigation and Detection (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

‘’If CIDG needs this committee to compel other personalities and entities to cooperate with the ongoing investigation then we can resume ASAP (as soon as possible),’’ Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa, committee chairman, said.

“Dapat talagang imbestigahan dahil trabaho po ng mga pulis, mga law enforcer na imbestigahan (They should really investigate because that is the job of the police, the law enforcers). Dapat hindi na po umabot sa ganun kalaki ‘yung mga nawalang tao (It should have not reach that number of the missing persons),” said Go.

“Isa pa lang may nangyaring problema dapat inimbestigahan na (They should have immediately conducted the investigation at the beginning of the problem). Trabaho po ito ng mga pulis, ng NBI, law enforcers, dapat mabigyan ng solusyon ito dahil buhay po nang nawala dito (This is the job of the police, NBI, law enforcers. This has to be resolved because lives are missing here),” he added.

In a memorandum signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Wednesday, the Palace directed the PNP and the NBI to conduct a “thorough investigation” into the missing sabungeros and submit the result of their findings to the President and the Department of Justice within 30 days.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) was also ordered to investigate alleged e-sabong license infractions.

Meanwhile, e-sabong licensees which are not being probed are allowed to continue their operations.

Earlier, dela Rosa indicated that the missing people included players, "master agents" or recruiters, and drivers whose whereabouts are still unknown.

Senators have filed a resolution requesting PAGCOR to halt the issuance of "e-sabong" licenses until the legal issues are resolved.

Go said that he is not privy to the details of the conversations between the President and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, as well as with Senator dela Rosa, related to the memorandum permitting e-sabong operations to continue.

He speculated that the decision might be based on the government's best interests, especially during this time of pandemic.

For the time being, Go said that his priority concern is to ensure the safety of the missing ‘sabungeros’ and to resolve the case.

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Related Tags

Bong Go NBI Pagcor PNPA missing cockfight enthusiasts sabungeros
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