EIGHT persons linked to the disappearance of the 31 enthusiasts of e-sabong or online cockfighting have been identified by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said: “Nais naming ibalita, Mr. President, at least eight suspects na ang ating na-identify,” Año told President Rodrigo Duterte during the address to the nation aired Wednesday.
“Sa oras na makuha na natin ang sapat na ebidensya ay hihingin na natin ang tulong ng korte at sa bisa ng mga warrant, agad nating hahanapin ang mga suspects na ito upang mabigyang linaw na ang mga insidente at mapatawan ng hustisya ang mga responsable dito,” he added.
Año explained that the PNP found the following similarities on the disappearances of the 31 cockfight aficionados:
-the last location of missing cockfighters were within the premises of cockpit arenas
-most of the vehicles used by the missing people were abandoned near their areas of residence
-all cockpit arenas being probed are managed by the same administrator and operator
-involved cockpit arenas have not installed or have non-functional closed-circuit television
-most persons of interest are either security or management personnel of cockpit arenas
Despite the Senate’s move to suspend e-sabong operations, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said that operations will continue pending the result of the investigation.
