There’s been a development in the case of the missing cockfighting enthusiasts in Luzon, but it’s not exactly good news.
According to Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon, some families of the missing cockfighting enthusiasts have withdrawn or stopped cooperating in the cases, including an obstruction of justice complaint against a defense lawyer.
As of last hearing, only one complainant showed up.
A report from GMA has Fadullon adding that even if complainants recant or withdraw their statements, the cases can still proceed without them. The Department of Justice also said the lack of cooperation from the families of those missing won’t affect the criminal aspect of the cases, only the claims for damages.
So what’s the bad news we’re referring to here? The case will proceed anyway.
If speculation is to be believed, the families of the missing cockfighting enthusiasts are slowly losing interest in the case or abandoning it altogether because they’re being threatened or paid.
One is worse than the other.
We understand why some would back down due to threats. Those behind the disappearances of the missing cockfighting enthusiasts are likely very influential individuals with connections to even more powerful people, who may not think twice about making even more people disappear.
But if they’re being paid for their silence, then that’s different.
Because it shows that some families are willing to forget that someone they loved was snatched, murdered, then dumped God-knows-where in exchange for money. Even if the guilty don’t get punished, even if they can never bury that loved one properly.
But it might not be that simple. Some families might have been threatened, others paid off. Or threatened until they just agreed to get paid off. Or they might have just lost interest because they have decided to forgive and move on.
We won’t know exactly because people aren’t talking about it.
But one thing’s sure. If some people are willingly accepting money for silence or non-cooperation then it sends the message that those who are rich enough can afford to just pay people to look the other way if they do something wrong. And that some of us are totally cool with it as long as we’re getting paid.