Justice Secretary Boying Remulla yesterday said the killers of more than 100 missing sabungeros were paid P500,000 for each kill.
“This is an organized crime and it’s not easy to prove, so let’s be careful with the words we say. It’s something that should be pursued from every angle,” he said in an interview with ANC News..
Remulla also said the government has requested remotely operated vehicles from the Japanese government for the search of the missing sabungeros who were allegedly dumped in Taal Lake.
One of the accused individuals who has turned whistleblower, known by the alias “Totoy,” claimed that the abduction and killings of the missing sabungeros are linked to cockpit and online sabong operations.
Remulla confirmed that government officials are involved in the series of crimes, adding that “we cannot reveal details at this time; we will continue to study this case.”
Meanwhile, PNP spokesperson and Police Comptroller BGen. Jean Fajardo said the identities and unit assignments of the about 20 suspected police officers involved in the killings are being withheld to prevent potential escape attempts or efforts to go off the grid.
“Regardless of who is involved here—whether that may be a civilian, a high-profile person, or even one of our comrades—we will not spare anyone,” Fajardo said during a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
She added that the PNP is ready to provide assistance to potential witnesses and will support investigative work as requested by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
“Any other assistance we can provide—whether to possible witnesses or in terms of investigative support requested by the DOJ—will be provided by the Philippine National Police,” she said.
Alias “Totoy” claimed in a televised interview with GMA 7’s 24 Oras that 20 uniformed personnel were involved in the abduction and killing of the sabungeros, whose bodies were allegedly dumped in Taal Lake, Batangas.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is preparing for an underwater search and retrieval operation in Taal Lake, where the remains of the missing sabungeros are believed to have been disposed.
PCG spokesperson Captain Noemie Guirao-Cayabyab said that while no formal request has been received, the PCG District Southern Tagalog has already deployed personnel for seaborne patrols and placed technical divers on standby.
“As of now, we have not received a formal request, but upon Secretary Remulla’s statement at that time, we deployed our people to conduct seaborne patrol operations. Our technical divers are also on standby,” Guirao-Cayabyab said in an interview Wednesday at PCG headquarters in Manila.
She noted that the operation will be the first of its kind in Taal Lake, with the lake’s depth and size posing major challenges.
“Taal Lake has a depth of 174 meters. Although our technical divers are experienced, historically they’ve only gone as deep as 100 meters,” she said.
“This will be the first time that we will attempt to retrieve bodies from Taal Lake. It’s a more complex operation compared to previous deployments, where our divers were sent out shortly after receiving reports. This one will be a challenge.”
