De Lima airs concern over missing sabungeros

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Leila de Lima yesterday expressed concern over the reported rising number of kidnapped or missing cockfight players, an issue she said was seemingly not getting enough public attention.

De Lima, who chairs the Senate committee on social justice, lamented that the investigation about the alarming issue appears to be “slow.”

“What’s this big mystery about missing or abducted sabungeros? Game-fixing syndicate? Is that the only theory? Why the seemingly slow pace of investigation? Meron na bang tunay na (are there real) leads, persons of interest o suspects?” De Lima said in her statement posted on Twitter.

The senator noted that the number of missing sabungeros  has reportedly reached 26, with the Philippine National Police (PNP) confirming that they have identified persons of interest.

She said the disappearance of sabungeros should not be taken for granted, or else the nation could hear reports of more persons missing.

“These cases of successive disappearance of individuals engaged in gambling is a perplexing phenomenon, which demands answers and closure,” De Lima said.