At least eight people have already been identified to be responsible in the case of more than 30 cockfighting gamers, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said on Tuesday, March 15.
In a briefing with the President aired on Wednesday, March 16, Año said the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) have observed key points at the course of the probe into the missing cockfighting gamers (sabungeros) in Manila, Batangas, Laguna and Rizal.
Based on the PNP-CIDG report, Año said all of the missing sabungeros were last seen near or within the premises of the cockfighting arenas and almost all of the vehicles they rode in were found abandoned near the places of their residences.
He noted that only one administrator or operator was assigned in the cockfighting arenas where the sabungeros went after they got missing.
Año also pointed out that the arenas do not have close-circuit television (CCTV) systems while the persons of interests involved in the missing sabungero cases are their security or management staff.
The DILG chief stressed that they will seek the assistance of the courts in serving the warrants of arrest to the suspects and determine their participation in the 31 missing sabungero cases as soon as the ample pieces of evidence are gathered by the police authorities.
“Hindi lamang po ang PNP ang nagsusumikap maresolve ang kasong ito (missing sabungeros). Patuloy ang pagtutulungan ng pambansang kapulisan, ang National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) at ang ating mga korteng panlalawigan, panglungsod at ang Department of Justice (DOJ) upang mapanatag at hindi na mangamba ang ating mga kababayan (It is not only the PNP who is trying to resolve this case. The national police has continuously coordinated with the National Bureau of Investigation, regional and city/ municipal trial courts and the Department of Justice to appease and let the public not worry),’’ Año said. (Chito A. Chavez)