DOJ, SC to discuss case of missing sabungeros

MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla will seek a meeting with Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo to discuss the alleged involvement of some members of the judiciary in the case of the 34 missing cockfight enthusiasts or sabungeros.

Remulla said he received information that the alleged mastermind in the disappearance of the cockfight enthusiasts claimed to have influence in the Supreme Court (SC).

The information, Remulla said, came from one of the suspects who is facing charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention in connection with the disappearance of the sabungeros, whose remains were allegedly dumped in Taal Lake in Batangas.

“We are up against a powerful opponent here, because money (corruption) seemed to have reached the judiciary, and that is one thing that I might discuss with the Chief Justice, because money from e-sabong is not an easy thing to deal with,” he said.

Remulla refused to provide details on the identity of the alleged mastermind, citing the ongoing case buildup.

He did not disclose which part of the judiciary was supposedly involved in the case.

“The suspect who wants to be state witness claimed he heard the mastermind said that he has influence (in the judiciary) even in the Supreme Court. I will discuss this matter with the Chief Justice,” Remulla said.

He said the suspect claimed that police officers, government officials and people from the Visayas region are allegedly involved in the case.

The suspect, identified only as “Totoy,” yesterday revealed to a television network that a female movie personality is involved in the case of the missing sabungeros.

He said the celebrity is among 30 people he identified in his affidavit.

Totoy said the woman was part of the group’s inner circle and was present in meetings with other suspects.

“She was among the alpha team, meaning she was with the group,” he said, noting the celebrity can be a key in solving the case.

Earlier, Remulla said investigators have expressed belief that an organized group, which earns millions of pesos from the operation of the online cockfighting, was behind the crime.

Meanwhile, SC spokesperson Camille Ting refused to comment on the pronouncements of Remulla.

“We have yet to meet with the Secretary of Justice regarding this matter,” Ting said.

As this developed, the Philippine Coast Guard said it has yet to receive a formal request from the DOJ to tap PCG divers in the search for the remains of the cockfight enthusiasts in Taal Lake.

PCG spokesperson Noemie Cayabyab said that PCG technical divers are on standby and ready to be deployed anytime the DOJ needs them.

Cayabyab said that after Remulla issued a statement last week about tapping divers in the search and retrieval operations in Taal Lake, PCG chief Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan immediately instructed the PCG-Southern Tagalog district “to comply and deploy our personnel.”

The PCG said it is waiting for additional details to determine the scope and number of divers needed to search for the missing sabungeros. — Emmanuel Tupas