JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday offered a P6-million reward for anyone who could provide information leading to the arrest of the six suspects in the disappearance of six sabungeros (cockfighting enthusiasts) last year.
Remulla made the announcement during his meeting with the families of the missing sabungeros, as he reassured them of the all-out efforts of his office and of law enforcement agencies to bring to justice those responsible for the disappearance of their loved ones.
“The search for six individuals involved in the disappearance of the sabungeros is ongoing, that’s why we are offering a P6-million reward to anyone who can provide information on the location or hiding place of the suspects,” Remulla said.
When asked where the reward money came from, Remulla replied: “Anonymous.”
Remulla did not provide the names of those covered by the bounty offer, but it may be recalled that last month, the DOJ filed kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges against six individuals believed to be responsible for the disappearance of James Baccay, Marlon Baccay, Claude Inonog, Mark Joseph Velasco, Rowel Gomez and Rondel Cristorum.
The suspects were identified as Julie Patidongan, Marc Carlo Zabala, Virgilio Bayog, Gleer Codilla, Roberto Matillano Jr., and Johnry Consolacion.
The prosecutors also recommended no bail for the temporary liberty of the respondents, who are still at large.
The six allegedly conspired to abduct the victims on January 13, 2022 while on their way to Manila from Tanay, Rizal.
The complaint said the victims were forced to board a gray van by the accused and were never seen again since.
Venancio Inonog, father of one of the victims, told the DOJ that his son managed to call him on his cellular phone to tell him that they were being forced to board a van. The father said he also heard people screaming before the call was cut off.
Prior to this, the DOJ indicted three Laguna policemen for robbery and kidnapping of e-sabungero agent Ricardo Lasco in August 2021.
The DOJ identified the policemen as Police Staff Sergeant Daryl Paghangaan and patrolmen Roy Navarete and Rigel Brosas.
The DOJ found probable cause to indict the three after they were positively identified by the victims’ relatives during the preliminary investigation.