Missing sabungeros: DOJ seizes suspects’ cell phones

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice was able to obtain the cell phones of six men linked to the disappearance of six cockfighting aficionados, DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said yesterday.

“This is probably one of the most important days because we obtained something that may possibly lead us to the truth of what really happened to the missing loved ones of the families,” Remulla said in Filipino during a press conference.

“This is good news. We achieved a breakthrough in this case. There is now a possibility of cracking open and solving it because of the finding,” he added.

Remulla said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group has filed a cyber warrant in order to search and obtain information from the suspects’ cell phones.

He, however, could not affirm that the DOJ is close to identifying the mastermind behind the disappearance of the missing sabungeros.

Virgilio Bayog, Gleer Codilla, Johnry Consolacion, Robert Matillano Jr., Julie Patidogan and Carlo Zabala were arrested in Parañaque on Sept. 15.

They are the subjects of arrest warrants issued by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 40 on charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention over the disappearance of six sabungeros at the Manila Arena on Jan. 13, 2022.