The Philippine National Police (PNP) disclosed that police officers who were tagged as suspects in one of the cases of missing ‘sabungeros’ (cockfight enthusiasts) have pleaded not guilty to charges filed against them.
At a televised public briefing, PNP public information office chief Police Colonel Redrico Maranan said that the suspects, who surrendered to authorities, have already undergone arraignment, GMA News reported.
“In one of the cases, where the suspects were police officers who surrendered to the authorities, have undergone arraignment and entered not guilty plea,” Maranan, quoted by GMA News, said.
In January, Police Patrolman Rigel Brosas and Police Staff Sergeant Daryl Paghangaan surrendered to the PNP-Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group Team 4-A. Former Police Corporal Roy Navarete also voluntarily surrendered at the Calauan Municipal Police Station in Laguna.
The three suspects are facing kidnapping, serious illegal detention, and robbery with violence charges in connection with the alleged kidnapping of e-sabong master agent Ricardo Lasco.
Lasco was illegally arrested at his house in Laguna by the police officers who allegedly pretended to be members of the National Bureau of Investigation in August 2021. He has not been seen since.
The PNP is working on at least eight cases on the disappearance of 34 sabungeros.
On Monday, the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said it already has an idea about the mastermind behind the missing sabungeros.
“We have an idea but since CIDG is the primary investigating agency of the PNP, we don’t want to file a case that will just be dismissed,” PNP-CIDG chief Brig. General Romeo Caramat Caramat, quoted by GMA News, said, adding that the CIDG “cannot yet divulge the alleged mastermind’s identity.”