A suspect-turned-whistleblower in the case of the missing “sabungeros” is now under the protective custody of the Philippine National Police as the government said it has already identified the “ground zero” in Taal Lake where the bodies of the disappeared cockfighting enthusiasts may have been dumped.
The Supreme Court has likewise stepped in and has started investigating the alleged involvement of a former judge in the case, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said.
This as whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan’s, who previously went by the alias “Totoy,” said a former judge has acted as a fixer for gaming tycoon Atong Ang, whom he accused of masterminding the disappearances along with actress Gretchen Barretto three other individuals.
“The Supreme Court has already launched an investigation,” Remulla said.
PNP chief General Nicolas Torre III said Patidongan is under police protective custody now.
“He’s already applying for the Witness Protection Program and if he qualifies, then we will turn him over to the Department of Justice,” he said.
“Totoy” earlier said the remains of 34 missing “sabungeros” were disposed of in Taal Lake between 2021 and 2022.
Patidongan said the victims were strangled, tied with sandbags, and thrown into the lake’s deeper areas.
National Bureau of Investigation Director Jaime Santiago, for his part, urged Patidongan to name the NBI personnel allegedly involved in the case.
“He should say who they are—point them out. If he doesn’t know the names, we can even line up our personnel so he can identify those he suspects are from the NBI,” Santiago said.
“But it’s unfair for the name of the Bureau to be dragged into this without any specific individuals being identified. These are very serious accusations,” he added.
Remulla said authorities will start searching Taal Lake this week for the remains of the victims.
“One of the suspects has a fishpond lease. We have already identified it. That is our ground zero,” Remulla added.
Manila earlier requested technical assistance from Tokyo for the search, while the Department of Science and Technology offered to lend its expertise and equipment.
Torre said the PNP has also received reports that some of the remains of the “sabungeros” may have been disposed of in other areas.
“Based on our information, Taal is not the only place of disposal. We are looking into other places as a disposal area of the missing victims,” Torre said.
The PNP chief also confirmed that of the 15 police officers placed under restrictive custody over their alleged involvement in the case, one was an officer with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
“We have partnered with the National Police Commission for the in-depth investigation of this case to ensure transparency and impartiality and to ensure that, really, the ends of justice will be achieved,” he said.
“These incidents are grisly, not acceptable by any standards and that’s why we have firm resolve to solve this,” Torre added.
As this developed, Batangas governor Vilma Santos-Recto appealed to the public not to link Taal Lake to the case of missing “sabungeros.”
“With this news – and we do not know yet if this is confirmed or not – the business of our fishermen is affected. We are not really sure if the bodies are there,” she said during her inaugural address.
She said the issue has affected fishermen catching “tawilis” (Sardinella tawilis), an endemic species which is found only in the lake.
