MANILA, Philippines — Police looking into the disappearance of 34 sabungeros are not giving up hope that they are still alive despite the pronouncement of Justice Secretary Jesus Crisipin Remulla that the cockfight enthusiasts are presumed dead.
Brig. Gen. Ronald Lee, director of the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said as far as they are concerned, the sabungeros are officially still missing.
“Missing pa rin unless may makita tayo na ebidensya ng body of evidence,” Lee said at a news briefing at Camp Crame yesterday.
Sought for comment on Remulla’s statement, Lee said the justice secretary was merely being “truthful” about the possible fate of the cockfight players.
Speaking in front of the relatives of some of the victims who were present at the briefing, Lee said, “I don’t want to give you false hope, but we still pray for a miracle.”
Based on his experience when he was still with the Anti-Kidnapping Group, Lee said kidnapping rings in Luzon are not known to hold their victims for a long time unlike lawless groups in Mindanao.
“Hindi nila hinahawakan ‘yan nang matagal dahil gusto talaga dito ay magkapera sila,” he said.
Charlene Lasco, sister of missing online sabong agent Ricardo Lasco, said Remulla should explain the basis for his pronouncement that the cockfight players might be dead already.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has found probable cause to indict three police officers for their alleged involvement in the disappearance of Lasco.
S/Sgt. Daryl Paghangaan as well as Patrolmen Roy Navarete and Rigel Brosas are facing charges of kidnapping and robbery in band.
Lasco was forcibly taken by armed men posing as agents of the National Bureau of Investigation at his house in San Pablo City, Laguna on Aug. 30, 2021.
Charlene said they have accepted that Lasco could be dead, but they have not given up hope he might still be alive.
She asked the police officers who allegedly kidnapped Lasco to come clean and name their other cohorts.
Family members of the missing sabungeros expressed dismay over Remulla’s pronouncement that the victims should be presumed dead.
Parents of some of the cockfight players said they were still hoping that the victims would be found alive.
“Are we supposed to leave it just like that? Of course, we will keep pursuing justice, keep looking where they have been taken or where they were buried,” Lita Baccay, mother of one of the missing sabungeros, said.
“If that is his interpretation, there’s nothing we can do. But I will hold on to the word ‘missing’ and still hope that we can find them,” Butch Inonog, father of missing car rental driver John Inonog, said. – Neil Jayson Servallos