Partner of missing sabungero bribed P1.5 million to drop cases

MANILA, Philippines — Two people were arrested in Taytay, Rizal on Monday for allegedly attempting to bribe a partner of one of the missing cockfight enthusiasts with P1.5 million in exchange for withdrawing the criminal charges filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Acting Philippine National Police chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. ordered the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to conduct an in-depth probe to identify the people behind the bribery attempt.

“We will unmask all those behind this attempt to bastardize our justice system. We assure the public that we will file cases against them,” Nartatez said.

A couple was apprehended in Barangay Dolores by personnel of the CIDG upon the complaint of Jaja Pilarta, partner of John Claude Inonog, one of the six sabungeros who were allegedly kidnapped at the Manila Arena in 2022.

In an interview on GMA News on Tuesday night, Pilarta said the suspects wanted her to drop the complaint filed against gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang and the other respondents before the DOJ.

“Ang gusto po nila, pirmahan ko ‘yun tapos manahimik na ako kapalit ng P1.5. million,” she said.

It turned out that the suspects are relatives of Inonog, which further irked Pilarta.

“Masama ‘yung loob ko, siyempre. Anong gusto ba nilang gawin? Gayahin ko ‘yung ginawa nila?” she said.

Instead of accepting the bribe money, Pilarta reported the couple to the CIDG.

The suspects, known only as Alvin John and Christina, are facing cases of obstruction of justice, perjury and grave coercion.

CIDG director Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico said two other relatives of Inonog served as conduits between the arrested suspects and the complainants.

Morico said the other suspects, whom he did not identify, visited Pilarta several times at her house and tried to convince her to recant her testimony.

The other suspects were not present during the operation, but were included in the cases filed by the CIDG.

“The complainant is serious in pursuing the case, but she doesn’t want to be harassed. Her safety is being threatened. That’s the reason she asked the help of the CIDG,” Morico told reporters.

Asked if Ang is among the people they are investigating in the attempted bribery, Morico said, “The probe is ongoing. So we will be updating you, with clearance coming from the DOJ and the PNP chief.”