15 COPS LINKED TO MISSING ‘SABUNGEROS’ UNDER RESTRICTIVE CUSTODY – TORRE

PHILIPPINE National Police chief Gen. Nicolas D. Torre III on Monday said the 15 policemen linked to the missing cockfighters are now under restrictive custody at Camp Crame, the PNP National Headquarters, in Quezon City.

Torre assured that the full force of the law will be used to bring justice to the cockfight enthusiasts who disappeared and their families.

“Sa ating mga kababayan, the PNP  will do its best effort to dispense justice. Walang sisinuhin dito. Wala kaming ibang layunin kundi bigyan ng hustisya ang lahat,” the PNP chief said.

Torre said the highest-ranked among the 15 PNP personnel is a lieutenant colonel.

The 15 are assigned in various PNP national operational support units, Police Regional Offices and even an Area Police Command, he said.  All but one who is already due for retirement and another who has been dismissed from the service, are still in active service,” the PNP chief said.

“We have traced several personnel who are already under investigation and that we can confirm. We have also partnered with the National Police Commission to ensure transparency and impartiality and see to it that the ends of justice will be served,” Torre said.

The PNP chief likewise said they are not stopping their investigation on the 15 policemen.

Torre said additional names of policemen have been linked to the case.

Meanwhile, Torre said that apart from Taal Lake, they are likewise looking at reports that there were some other places where the bodies of the missing “sabungeros” were disposed by their killers.

“May mga witness identifying kung saan na-disposed ang mga katawan. May sinasabing sinunog, may mga information n nagsasabing ibinaon, kaya tinitingnan nating mabuti ‘yan, ‘yung mga ibang lugar,” he said.

Torre also admitted that he was still the director of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) when they got hold of whistleblower Dondon “Julie”  Patidongan and took his affidavit regarding the missing “sabungeros.”

“I was very shocked nung nalaman mga revelations. Alam namin nun pa kaya nga may resolve kami to solve the case. Talagang karumal-dumal, not acceptable by any standards,” Torre said.

The country’s top cop said Patidongan is currently under their protective custody but will be turned over to the Department of Justice (DOJ) once his application for the government’s Witness Protection Program is approved.

Patidongan is a long-time farm manager and former trusted aide of wealthy businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang who, along with celebrity-actress Gretchen Barreto, has been linked by the whistleblower to the disappearance of the “sabungeros”, whose bodies were allegedly dumped in Taal Lake.

Ang and Barreto vehemently denied the charges by Patidongan even as Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla revealed they now have “multiple witnesses” who could testify where in Taal Lake those missing “sabungeros” were thrown after being killed.