MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday indicted six persons for kidnapping and serious illegal detention in connection with six missing sabungeros or cockfighting enthusiasts. In a statement, the DOJ said it promulgated a resolution on Thursday indicting farm manager Julie Patidongan along with Gleer Codilla, Mark Carlo Zabala, Virgilio Bayog, Johnry Consolacion and Roberto Matillano Jr. on six counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention.
The DOJ said the panel found the six suspects to have conspired in “kidnapping and depriving the liberty” of John Claude Inonog, James Baccay, Marlon Baccay, Rondel Cristorum, Mark Joseph Velasco and Rowel Gomez.
The charges will be filed before the Manila Regional Trial Court.
The six sabungeros reportedly left Tanay, Rizal at around 1 a.m. on Jan. 13. They were bound for the Manila Arena, supposedly to join the six-cock stag derby, but went missing after they were allegedly forced to board a gray van before 8 p.m.
During the preliminary investigation, the DOJ said the six respondents denied the allegations, claiming that their individual roles in the disappearance of the victims “were not specifically alleged.”
The respondents also said the witnesses have no personal knowledge of the crime and that some of them were not present during the alleged kidnapping.
“However, the panel gave scant consideration to the defense of the respondents in light of the positive identification and credible testimonies of the complainants’ witnesses,” the DOJ said in a statement.
The DOJ cited complainant Venancio Inonog, John Claude’s father, who “testified that he was able to talk via phone call with his son, who informed him that they were forced to board a gray van against their will. His son was able to identify respondents Bayog, Consolacion and Matillano.”
The DOJ also cited Inonog’s statement about hearing “a lot of screaming” before the cell phone “went dead.” Inonog said he repeatedly dialed the number his son used but “the cell phone was turned off.”
Witness Denmark Sinfuego said during the preliminary investigation that he saw Patidongan, Codilla, Zabala, Bayog, Consolacion and Matillano capture victims Cristorum, Gomez and Velasco.
“Briefly, the prosecution was able to establish probable cause against the respondents,” the DOJ said.
The DOJ assured the victims’ families it will work closely with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, National Bureau of Investigation and Philippine National Police for the swift investigation, resolution and prosecution of the case.