Persons of interest linked to 26 missing players

MANILA, Philippines — Investigators have identified persons of interest in the disappearance and kidnapping of at least 26 cockfight players.

Col. Jean Fajardo, spokesperson for the Philippine National Police (PNP), said in an interview over dzBB that probers of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) are “focusing on persons of interest” in the disappearance of the cockfight aficionados.

Fajardo did not give other details as probers are still consolidating pieces of evidence, including footage from surveillance cameras that could give leads on the whereabouts of the missing sabungeros.

CIDG director Maj. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro said the special investigation task group probing the case has obtained a copy of surveillance footage showing six cockfight players entering the Manila Arena on Jan. 13.

The footage showed that the victims left the arena in a Tamaraw FX along with four vehicles.

The CIDG has coordinated with surrounding barangays for other surveillance videos to trace the travel of the victims and the other unidentified vehicles.

A security official, meanwhile, said the security guards of the Manila Arena summoned by the CIDG appeared yesterday at Camp Crame, where they were interviewed by investigators.