Jamaine Punzalan

Family members of the missing sabungeros call for justice during a media conference in Quezon City on July 14, 2025. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Families of Missing Sabungeros call for Justice

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175385753829020250714-justice-missing-sabungeros-MD-9.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Family members of the missing sabungeros call for justice during a media conference in Quezon City on July 14, 2025. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Most of the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/29/12-cops-in-sabungeros-case-face-administrative-case-1306">12 police officers</a> tagged in the alleged abduction and murder of several missing cockfighting enthusiasts had prior administrative cases, an official said Wednesday.</p><p>Atty. Brigido Dulay, Inspector General of the Philippine National Police Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS), said the unit had already submitted the officers’ administrative records to the National Police Commission (Napolcom), as the probe into the case continued.</p><p>Napolcom earlier filed charges of grave misconduct, irregularities in the performance of duty, and conduct unbecoming of an officer against the 12 policemen. The cases were primarily based on the sworn statement of whistleblower Julie Patidongan, also known as &quot;Alias Totoy,&quot; along with other complainants.</p><p>Dulay declined to detail the previous offenses of the officers, saying the cases had already been resolved and turned over to the Vice Chairman and Executive Officer (VCEO) Rafael Vicente Calinisan.</p><p>“Hindi ko na lang ilalatag sapagkat ito’y inihain na namin kay VCEO Calinisan, pero meron sa kanila ang nasangkot sa iba’t ibang klase ng administrative cases,” Dulay said. “Sa 12, siguro lampas kalahati sa kanila.”</p><p>(I won’t lay them out anymore since we’ve already submitted them to VCEO Calinisan, but several of them were involved in various kinds of administrative cases. Out of the 12, probably more than half.)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/21/groups-tried-to-influence-probe-on-12-cops-tagged-in-missing-sabungeros-case-napolcom-1814">Groups tried to influence probe on 12 cops tagged in missing sabungeros case: Napolcom</a></div><p>The spate of mysterious 2022 disappearances in the country&#x27;s huge cockfighting industry erupted back into the public consciousness last month with the appearance of Patidongan, who claimed to know where bodies had been submerged in Lake Taal.</p><p>Since beginning the search on July 10, the Philippine Coast Guard has found several <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/11/missing-sabungeros-search-more-sacks-spotted-on-taal-s-lakebed-1327">sacks at the bottom of the lake</a>, some of which contained human bones. </p><p>Around 30 individuals were initially reported missing between 2021 and 2022 in connection with alleged game fixing in online cockfighting or e-sabong, though some claims suggest the number may be higher.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/28/marcos-gov-t-going-after-masterminds-in-missing-sabungeros-case-1709">Marcos: Gov’t going after masterminds in &#x27;missing sabungeros&#x27; case</a></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="1100" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/h7AMyYfczIU" title="SONA 2025 | Marcos warns those involved in missing sabungeros case | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><iframe width="1100" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zJBIT4G9ipw" title="Atong Ang tagged as mastermind in missing sabungeros case; tycoon&#x27;s camp answers | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Most of the 12 police officers tagged in the alleged abduction and murder of several missing cockfighting enthusiasts had prior administrative cases, an official said Wednesday.</p>

Most of the 12 police officers tagged in the alleged abduction and murder of several missing cockfighting enthusiasts had prior administrative cases, an official said Wednesday.

Most cops in ‘missing sabungeros’ case had prior admin cases: IAS

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Most cops in ‘missing sabungeros’ case had prior admin cases: IAS

Michael Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 30, 2025 02:41 PM PHT

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