New witness surfaces in sabungeros case

MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla disclosed that a new witness will soon come forward in the case of the missing cockfight enthusiasts or sabungeros, who could bolster the credibility of whistleblower Julie Patidongan, alias Totoy.

Remulla said this is a “new name” whose identity has not yet been released to the media. He also said the individual is a civilian who was finally identified by the investigators.

“This is not only testimonial evidence. Apart from testimony, this has real evidence with it,” he said.

At the same time, Remulla said a police service commander has been relieved from his post over actions that could compromise the ongoing investigation into the sabungeros’ disappearance.

Remulla did not name the police official but said the cop’s actions did not seem aligned with the efforts to solve the case, causing him to lose trust and confidence.

“His actions and decisions are not aligned with the resolution of the case. I do not want to be hesitating. He did something that I did not like,” Remulla told reporters.

He said he asked Philippine National Police chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III to relieve the police commander, which was granted.

The justice chief, however, clarified that the relief of the police official does not mean that he is involved in the disappearance of the sabungeros.

“Trust is essential in this process. Without trust, how can witnesses come forward? That’s what I’m ensuring,” he explained.

Admin cases filed

After it found probable cause, the National Police Commission (Napolcom) yesterday filed administrative complaints against 12 police officers in connection with the kidnapping and disappearance of the sabungeros.

Cases of grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer were referred by the Napolcom’s inspection monitoring and investigation service (IMIS) to the commission’s legal affairs service.

Napolcom vice chairman and executive officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan said the police officers – three officials and nine non-commissioned officers – will have the opportunity to give their side through pleadings of position papers.

“They will be given time to file their answers after which there will be hearings,” Calinisan said at a press briefing.

IMIS staff service chief Edman Pares, who was present at the news conference, identified the respondents as Col. Jacinto Malinao Jr., Lt. Col. Ryan Jay Orapa, Maj. Mark Philip Almedilla, Executive Master Sgt. Aaron Ezrah Cabillan, Chief Master Sgt. Arturo Dela Cruz Jr., Senior Master Sgts. Joey Encarnacion, Mark Anthony Manrique and Anderson Abary, Staff Sgts. Alfredo Andes, Edmon Munoz and Renan Fulgencio and Cpl. Angel Joseph Martin.

According to Pares, they primarily based their complaints on the sworn statement of whistleblower Patidongan.

Patidongan tagged the police officers as among the personalities who were involved in the abduction and murder of over 108 sabungeros. He said the victims were killed on the orders of his former boss, gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang.

Even if government work was suspended for one week because of the effects of storms that hit the country, Calinisan vowed they will finish the administrative cases in 60 days.

In his fourth State of the Nation Address on Monday, President Marcos said his administration will hold accountable the people behind the kidnaping and killing of the sabungeros. — Emmanuel Tupas, Mark Ernest Villeza