Two people considered as the missing links in the missing sabungeros case are now in the custody of the police, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said Thursday.
The PNP identified the two as siblings of one of the accused and whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan, according to a report of Super Radyo dzBB’s Mark Makalalad.
According to Fajardo, the two were arrested in a Southeast Asian country and were transported to the Philippines on July 22.
One of the arrested persons was allegedly the one who was caught in a CCTV footage withdrawing money using the ATM card of one of the missing sabungeros.The other one was also caught escorting another victim during an alleged abduction.
One of them was arrested due to an arrest warrant for robbery, while the other one for using a different name on his passport.
The PNP said the arrests were legitimate as they coordinated the operation with the Bureau of Immigration.
A total of 34 cockfighting enthusiasts have been reported missing from 2021 to 2022. According to the police, the missing personalities were kidnapped allegedly due to match fixing or cheating in the cockfighting games.
Patidongan claimed that the victims were already buried in Taal Lake.
He named businessman Atong Ang as a mastermind in the case and also linked actress Gretchen Barretto to the disappearances. Both have denied the allegations. — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA Integrated News
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