(File photo)
MANILA – The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) must continue to look for the missing cockfight aficionados for the sake of their families even if the Senate committee hearing is adjourned.
Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs chairperson Ronald dela Rosa said Monday’s hearing may be the last but the quest for justice will not stop.
"Kahit ma-adjourn na itong committee hearings na ito, itong investigation na ito, I hope you will continue for the sake of justice of these people who are still missing as of the moment at sana mananagot pati ‘yung malalaking tao na nasa likuran nito (Even if we adjourn these committee hearings, I hope you will continue the investigations for the sake of justice for these people who are still missing as of the moment and hold the people behind this liable even if they’re influential)," Dela Rosa said during the proceedings.
The PNP-CIDG reported to the Senate that out of the eight cases of 34 missing persons, two have been filed against several suspects and John Does involved in incidents in Sta. Ana Arena, Manila and in San Pablo City, Laguna.
PNP-CIDG chief, Maj. Gen. Eliseo Cruz, said some police officers who are allegedly involved are currently under summary hearing proceedings before the PNP-Regional Internal Affairs Service (PNP-RIAS) Calabarzon for administrative cases.
Cruz said that in the case of Ricardo "Jonjon" Lasco, a master agent of electronic sabong or online cockfighting who was kidnapped by 10 armed men inside his residence in San Pablo City, Laguna in August 2021, the victim’s kin and witnesses positively identified the suspects as cops formerly assigned at the Laguna Provincial Police Office based in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.
The PNP-CIDG, together with the victim’s kin and witnesses, has filed criminal complaints for kidnapping and serious illegal detention, and robbery against the five identified policemen who are now under restrictive custody at the Regional Police Office in Calabarzon.
Cruz added that brothers Darwin and Alvin Indon, who were allegedly involved in game fixing and currently detained at the Laguna Provincial Jail for violations of Republic Act 9165 (Dangerous Drugs Act), identified the same group of police officers as involved.
"In the other incidents of missing sabungeros (cockfight aficionados), the PNP-CIDG will continue to conduct an investigation to gather more pieces of evidence as well as sworn statements of credible witnesses for eventual filing of appropriate charges. To this honorable committee and to the rest of the Filipino people, rest assured that the CIDG and the Philippine National Police as a whole will continue to do our best efforts towards the resolution of these cases," Cruz said. (PNA)
