MANILA, Philippines —The Philippine National Police is set to file kidnapping and serious illegal detention complaints against six security personnel linked to the disappearances of cockfighting aficionados at the Manila Arena.
In an interview with Dobol B TV on Wednesday, Police Col. Jean Fajardo, PNP spokesperson, said the investigation into the disappearances continues.
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"Anytime this week, the CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) will file charges against the people involved in the disappearances of sabungeros in the Manila Arena," she said.
Fajardo said they will be filing kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges against six members of the security team at the Manila Arena.
She added that the PNP was able to get the sworn statement of a key witness who allegedly saw the abduction of six sabungeros in Manila Arena on Jan 13.
The six missing people are Marlon Baccay, James Baccay, Mark Joseph Velasco, Rondel Cristorum, Rowel Gomez and John Claude Inonog, who were last seen in the area earlier this year.
Fajardo noted that the lack of CCTV cameras in the area posed a challenge to investigators.
This comes after the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs held two hearings into the 31 missing individuals linked to e-sabong activities which involve remote wagering during cockfights.
The Senate panel earlier filed a resolution urging the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to suspend the seven licensees of the e-sabong industry, now a P50-billion industry.
On Wednesday, Malacañang ordered the Pagcor, PNP and National Bureau of Investigation to continue their probes into the disappearances.