DOJ: Missing ‘sabungeros’ case can be pursued sans bodies

By Benjamin Pulta, Philippine News Agency

FILE: Taal Volcano as seen from Tagaytay. (Photo by Yla Corotan – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday said the recovery of the victims’ remains is not necessary in case prosecutors push through with murder charges against those behind the disappearance of the missing “sabungeros” (cockfight afficionados).

In a message to reporters, DOJ spokesperson Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said “it is not absolutely necessary to find the body of the victim to prove the crime of murder.”

“This legal principle is consistent with the doctrine of corpus delicti, which refers not to the body of the deceased, but to the fact that a crime has been committed,” he said.

The DOJ official explained that a conviction is still possible without producing the body as long as the fact of death is proven in court.

“Obviously, presenting the body or remains will be damning evidence of this. Yet, even without presenting the same, there are many other ways to prove the fact of death. Photos or videos of the killing may establish the fact of death, for instance,” Clavano said.

Meanwhile, Clavano said they have formally asked the Japanese government for equipment to assist in the planned recovery of remains of the sabungeros purportedly dumped in Taal Lake in Batangas.

“We are awaiting their response,” he said.

The DOJ earlier said the search for the bodies will be an inter-agency operation involving law enforcement agencies and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau.