Whistleblower files complaints vs. cops in missing ‘sabungeros’ case

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan, Philippine News Agency

COPS CHARGED. National Police Commission (Napolcom) Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan and Whistleblower Julie Patidongan, alias “Totoy” answer questions from the media after Patidongan filed administrative complaints against 12 cops before Napolcom on Monday (July 14, 2025). Patidongan claimed the 12 police officers were involved in the missing sabungeros case. (PNA photo by Lloyd Caliwan)

MANILA – Whistleblower Julie Patidongan, alias “Totoy”, on Monday formally filed administrative complaints against the police officers tagged in the missing ‘sabungeros’ (cockfight enthusiasts) case before the National Police Commission (Napolcom).

Patidongan, one of the accused in the case, has named 12 police officers and personnel he alleged to be involved in the abductions of cockfighting enthusiasts.

“Itong mga pulis na ito, sila ang mga kumukuha ng mga missing sabungero galing sa farm. Sila ang nagdadala doon sa Taal Lake (These police officers, they are the ones who take the missing sabungeros from the farm. They are the ones who bring them to Taal Lake,” Patidongan said in a press conference at the Napolcom office in Quezon City,

He alleged that the police officers were paid to abduct the sabungeros.

The relatives of the missing cockfighting enthusiasts joined Patidongan in lodging complaints against the police officers.

The complaint is administrative in nature, which means the penalty could either be suspension or removal from police service, depending on Napolcom’s sanctions.

He also linked the police officers to the bloody war on drugs of the previous administration.

“Pinakilala nga yan sa akin, major pa yan non si [Police Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Jay] Orapa pinakilala sakin ni Col. [Jacinto] Malinao [Jr.] dahil yan si Col. Malinao kaibigan yan ni Engineer Celso Salazar close yan sila dun nagsimula lahat ng pangyayari (Orapa, he was still major then, introduced me to Col. Because Col. Malinao and Engineer Celso Salazar were close friends and that’s where everything started),” Patidongan said.

“Kasi sila yung taga-ligpit sa war on drugs noon, (Because they were the killers in the war on drugs then).”

He said Salazar, along with Charlie “Atong” Ang and Eric Dela Rosa, is among the alleged masterminds while Orapa and Malinao were among the police officers he named in the complaint affidavit.

Patidongan said around 30 more inactive cops were involved in the disappearance of the sabungeros.

Patidongan also implicated retired Police Lt. Gen. Jonnel Estomo in the case, saying Estomo told Ang to kill him “so that there will be no problems.”

Napolcom Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan said the 12 police officers may face administrative charges for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.

“Ang penalties noon ang pinakamababa ay suspension, ang gitnang penalty ay demotion, ang pinakamabigat na penalty doon ay (The penalties being the lowest is suspension, next is demotion, and the heaviest being) dismissal from the service,” Calinisan said.

Calinisan said Napolcom will release its decision on the matter in 60 days.