Push Admin

Suspects in missing sabungeros case granted bail, says DOJ official

Article (news)

Adrian Ayalin, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Relatives of the missing sabungeros met with Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla in his office inside the Department of Justice on January 13, 2023. Nearly 2 years have passed since the sabungeros went missing as families continue to seek justice. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File " src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/12/15/20230113-missing-sabungeros-doj-gc-4.jpg"/><figcaption>Relatives of the missing sabungeros met with Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla in his office inside the Department of Justice on January 13, 2023. Nearly 2 years have passed since the sabungeros went missing as families continue to seek justice. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File </figcaption></figure></div>MANILA — A Manila court allowed six suspects in the &quot;missing sabungeros&quot; case to post bail, a Department of Justice (DOJ) official said on Friday. The Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 40 granted the suspects bail for a total of P3 million each, Senior State Deputy Prosecutor Richard Fadullon said.The six suspects who were allowed to post bail included Julie Patidongan and his companions Gleer Codilla, Mark Carlo Zabala, Virgilio Bayog, Johnry Consolacion and Roberto Matillano, Jr. They are facing six counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges over the alleged abduction of six individuals at the Manila Arena in January 2022.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/16/23/remulla-raises-alarm-over-settlement-in-missing-sabungeros">Remulla raises alarm over ‘settlement’ in missing sabungeros cases as some families desist</a></li></ul>The bail amount for each of the cases for each individual amounts to P500,000.Fadullon noted that the court declared that three elements in kidnapping were not proven by the prosecution, particularly the the act of detaining the missing individuals.“Kasi ang huling alam lamang ng testigo is that nakita niyang isinasakay sa van at noong tinatanong sila kung may pamumuwersa o pananakot, wala naman daw silang nakita,” Fadullon said.But he did not discount the possibility of filing a motion for reconsideration.“There is a possibility that we might just file an MR, we have to discuss this with the prosecutor handling the case pero kahit pa naka-pending itong MR na ito iyong proseso ng paglalatag ng piyansa ng mga akusado ay patuloy na gumagalaw,” Fadullon said.Jaja Pilarta, the partner of missing sabungero John Claude Inonog, lamented the decision of the court.“Sa tagal ng pananahimik nila na wala silang binibigay na update ito pa ba ang pamasko nila sa amin na makakapyansa na yung ano, binigyan na ng pagkakataong makapagpyansa yung anim,” said Pilarta.She said the relatives of the other missing sabungeros were equally disappointed.“Nagmi-meeting-meeting pa kami kasi kahit yung iba na-low morale din kasi siyempre ang tagal na nanahimik eh ultimo police, lahat ng mga humahawak sa bawat case na, wala pa rin update sa amin,” Pilarta said.“Akala naman namin may maganda silang balita tapos ngayon yun pala ang ibabalita sa amin, pwede na mag-bail pwede na magpyansa yung mga nakakulong,” she added. The case of the missing sabungeros was earlier linked to match-fixing speculations. A Senate investigation had found the players were suspected of sabotaging their roosters so they would lose, while secretly betting on their opponents. Filipinos from all walks of life wager millions of pesos on matches every week between roosters who fight to the death with razor-sharp metal spurs tied to their legs.The sport, banned in many other countries, survived coronavirus pandemic restrictions by going online, drawing many more bettors who use their mobile phones to place wagers.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/multimedia/slideshow/10/24/22/feathers-fly-as-cockfighting-shakes-off-covid-closures">Feathers fly as Philippine cockfighting shakes off COVID closures</a></li></ul><div>— With a report from Agence France-Presse</div>

A Manila court allowed six suspects in the 'missing sabungeros' to post bail, a Department of Justice official said on Friday. 

Suspects in missing sabungeros case granted bail, says DOJ official

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

News

Suspects in missing sabungeros case granted bail, says DOJ official

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 15, 2023 05:38 PM PHT

|

Updated Dec 16, 2023 05:16 PM PHT

Read More:

sabungeros

cockfighting

sabong

DOJ

crime

kidnapping

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.