30 tagged in kidnap, murder of 34 sabungeros

MANILA, Philippines — At least 30 people, a majority of whom are police officers, were allegedly behind the kidnapping and murder of 34 cockfight enthusiasts or sabungeros, according to one of the suspects who wants to turn state witness.

The whistle-blower, identified only as Totoy, said he has named the suspects in his affidavit.

He said he would submit his affidavit to proper authorities soon.

Totoy said around 20 of the kidnappers are police officers while the rest are civilians.

He said one of the police officers owns the fishery in Taal Lake in Batangas where the missing sabungeros were reportedly buried.

Totoy earlier said the cockfight enthusiasts were tied to sandbags to keep their bodies from floating to the surface.

Totoy was among six security guards charged with kidnapping and serious illegal detention for the disappearance of the sabungeros.

He said security guards of cockpit arenas where the sabungeros were last seen are accomplices to the crime.

Totoy said he has been receiving threats and moving from one place to another to avoid detection.

Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo, spokesperson for the Philippine National Police (PNP), said there would be no sacred cows even if police officers are involved in the case.

“Regardless of who are involved, whether they may be civilians, high-profile people or even one of our comrades, we will not spare anyone,” Fajardo said at a news briefing on Tuesday.

She said the PNP is waiting for Totoy’s full revelation about the missing sabungeros.

Fajardo said they have yet to receive a request for assistance from the Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding the case.

She said the PNP and the Maritime Group are ready to assist the DOJ in conducting search and retrieval operations in Taal Lake.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla expressed belief that there may be about 100 cockfight enthusiasts killed since 2021.

Remulla cited Totoy’s claims that killers were paid P500,000 for each “cheating” cockfight enthusiast  they killed.

He said the Philippines would ask the Japanese government to help search for the bodies in the lake.

Remulla said the DOJ would ask the Japanese  government to lend their remote operating vehicles and equipment to map out the lakebed.

The equipment will be used to determine which part of the lake or sediment to disturb to find the sabungeros, Remulla said.  – Daphne Galvez