Only five of the original 31 complainants in the missing sabungeros case have been
attending court hearings because of attempts to bribe them to drop the case, the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) said on Wednesday.
NAPOLCOM Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan presented the five relatives of missing sabungeros, who filed charges against two police officers who allegedly facilitated meetings between the victims’ relatives and the accused policemen.
The families filed an administrative complaint against Philippine National Police High-
way Patrol Group spokesperson Lt. Nadame Malang and Warden Major Reynaldo Pañebe
Jr. of the PNP Custodial Center.
According to the families, they received varying amounts of money from P20,000 to P40,000 from a lawyer pruportedly representing fugitive Atong Ang—allegedly described as transportation assistance and compensation for the inconvenience of attending the meetings.
Calinisan said the commission’s Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service (IMIS) has been directed to conduct a motu proprio investigation into the possible administrative liabilities of the police personnel involved.
