‘Totoy’: Ex-vice mayor also involved in disappearances
Whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan yesterday filed a complaint against 12 police officers who he said were allegedly involved in the case of the missing “sabungeros.”
He said he will also file a separate case against retired Lt. Gen. Jonnel Estomo, a former director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), whom he tagged as the highest-ranking officer involved in the case of the disappeared cockfighting enthusiasts.
Earlier, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said at least one senator and two congressmen, as well as other high-profile personalities, may be involved in the e-sabong case based on Patidongan’s revelations.
“General Estomo, he is a member of the Alpha (Group). He was among those who encouraged Mr. Atong Ang – ‘Boss, let’s kill Dondon Patidongan so that your problem will be over,’” Patidongan said.
He said up to 30 more cops may be linked to the case.
Of the 12 officers named in his complaint, Patidongan identified the following during a media briefing at the National Police Commission:
1. Col. Jacinto Malinao
2. Lt. Col. Ryan Orapa
3. Maj. Mark Almadilla
4. PEMS Aaron Cabillan
5. PCMS Arturo dela Cruz Jr.
6. PSMS Joey Encarnacion
7. PSMS Mark Manrique
8. PSMS Anderson Abale
9. PSS Alfredo Andres
10. PCPL Angel Martin
11. PMSG Renan Fulgencio
“These cops were the ones who kidnapped the sabungeros from the farm. They were the ones who dumped the bodies in Taal Lake,” Patidongan said.
Relatives of the missing “sabungeros” joined Patidongan in filing a complaint against the police officers.
Patidongan said Malinao was close to Engineer Celso Salazar, one of three alleged masterminds that Patidongan identified, along with gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang and Eric dela Rosa.
He said the same group of police officers were also involved in the bloody war on illegal drugs during the previous administration.
He also named former Talisay, Batangas vice mayor Charlie Natanauan as among those who “receive people sent for slaughter.” Patidongan, however, did not elaborate.
Napolcom vice chairperson Rafael Vicente Calinisan said the 12 police officers may face administrative charges for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.
“The lowest penalty is suspension, next is demotion, and the heaviest is dismissal from the service,” Calinisan said.
He said Napolcom will release its decision on the matter in 60 days.
PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III also confirmed the 12 cops named in Patidongan’s complaint were among the 15 officers already under restrictive custody in Camp Crame in Quezon City.
Torre admitted more cops might be linked to the case as the investigation deepens and the plot thickens.
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday said investigators are eyeing possible links of the individuals allegedly behind the case of the missing “sabungeros” to the extrajudicial killings during the past administration’s war on drugs.
“I think that the deaths might intersect…more on the death squads. The people who undertake the contractual killings may intersect somehow with the drug war and with the e-sabong,” he said.
“That’s as far as we can trace right now, but we will have to establish clearer links to each other,” Remulla added.
Because of this, Remulla said they expect the ongoing search in Taal Lake to be extended indefinitely.
“A lot of individuals have also gone missing in the drug war). In accordance with the testimony of alias Totoy, there are more than 100 victims in e-sabong alone. But it looks like the lake has become a place where bodies are routinely disposed of. That seemed to be what happened,” the Justice secretary said.
Remulla said the DOJ will be contacting forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun to assist in the processing of any remains recovered.
“She’s (Fortun) under medical furlough now. But she is being asked to head the Philippine Forensics Institute, which we are establishing. And she will be helping us,” he said.
