Kin of missing sabungeros seek case update

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan, Philippine News Agency

Myline Fernandine, mother of one of the men who went missing after supposedly running afoul with operators of cockpit arenas. (PNA photo by Ben Pulta)

MANILA – Some of the families of missing sabungeros (cockfight aficionados) on Friday went to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Camp Crame in Quezon City to seek update on the ongoing case.

Maricel Ramos, a relative of one of the 34 missing sabungeros, said they initiated the coordination in hopes of seeking an audience with the CIDG and the Department of Justice.

“Tanggap na po namin na wala na ‘yong anak namin. Kahit buto lang po ng anak namin, makita namin (We have accepted that our son is no more. We wish to see even just his bones),” Ramos told reporters, adding that they want authorities to search the Taal Lake for the remains of the victims allegedly dumped there, as revealed in media interviews by key witness Julie “Dondon” Patidongan.

Another parent, Francisca de Luna Ramos, could not contain her anguish over the slow pace of justice.

“Humihingi po ako ng hustisya para sa aking anak para po magkaroon ng linaw. Napakatagal na pong nawawala ang aking anak. Para po sa akin, humihingi po ako ng tulong para po makita man lang kahit buto man lang, para maiuwi sa amin (I am asking for justice for my son and some clarity. My son has been missing for a long time. For me, I am asking for help to find at least a bone, so that he can be brought home to us),” she said.

“Bakit naman po ganon po, napakasakit po para sa akin. Para naman pong hayop na pinatay ang aking anak.

Wala naman pong magulang na itataboy ang anak (Why did that happen? It’s so painful for me. It’s like my child was killed like an animal. There is no parent who will drive their child away),” she added.

For his part, CIDG acting chief Brig. Gen. Romeo Macapaz confirmed that he would meet with the families but said he would be unable to provide the media with details of their discussion.

On Thursday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said business tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang and actress Gretchen Barretto would be investigated after they were implicated in the case of the missing “sabungeros.”

In an interview with reporters, Remulla said the two personalities would be included in the investigation of the Department of Justice (DOJ) after Julie Patidongan, alias Totoy, tagged Ang as the mastermind behind the abductions and linked Barreto to the disappearances.

Ang maintained his innocence as he filed a complaint against Patidongan before the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday morning.

He claimed that Patidongan and another former employee threatened to implicate him in the missing sabungeros case if he refused to give them PHP300 million.

Meanwhile, Remulla said experts are still planning how to go about mapping the bed of the Taal Lake following Patidongan’s claim that the remains of more than 100 persons, including the missing sabungeros, were dumped there.