Missing sabungeros: DOJ offers P6 million reward for suspects’ arrest

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice is offering a reward of P6 million for information that would lead to the arrest of six suspects in the disappearance of several sabungeros or cockfight players in Luzon, DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla announced yesterday.

Remulla said the manhunt for the suspects in the case of missing sabungeros is ongoing.

“With the help of the police, we have informed the families of the victims about the arrest of three more perpetrators of this crime,” he said in a statement.

“We are continuing the massive manhunt for six other suspects involved in the disappearance of the sabungeros,” Remulla added.

The police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said it has an idea about the mastermind in the disappearance of at least 34 sabungeros.

Speaking to reporters after the case conference on the missing sabungeros at the DOJ yesterday, CIDG chief Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr. said they are looking into one group of suspects who orchestrated the kidnapping of the cockfight aficionados.

“We have an idea of who the mastermind is, but as the primary investigating agency of the Philippine National Police, we don’t want to file cases that would only be dismissed,” Caramat said.

He noted that law enforcers are focused on tracking down several people linked to the disappearance of cockfight players.

“We believe that they are the ones who perpetrated all these cases,” Caramat said. “So when they are caught, all the cases we are investigating would be solved.”

Last month, police filed charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention against six suspects.

Julie Patidongan, Gleer Codilla, Mark Carlo Zabala, Virgilio Bayog, Johnry Consolacion and Roberto Matillano Jr. are all at large.