DOJ appeals bail ruling on suspects in missing ‘sabungero’ case

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has asked a Manila court to reverse its decision granting bail to the six suspects in the illegal detention and kidnapping cases involving six missing “sabungeros” or cockfight enthusiasts.

DOJ Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Jose Dominic Clavano insisted prosecutors have strong evidence against the suspects.

“We have filed a motion for reconsideration on the court’s grant of bail because we believe that it is not right that they are granted bail and allowed out of detention,” Clavano said, adding: “We think we have a strong case.”

Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon has said the DOJ will exhaust all legal means to reverse the grant of bail by the Manila RTC to the suspects.

Clavano said the DOJ would set another meeting with the families of the missing sabungeros to update them on development in the cases filed against Manila Arena security guards Gleer Codilla, Virgilio Bayog, Johnry Consolacion, Julie Patidongan, Roberto Matillano Jr., and Mark Carlo Zabala.

The six suspected were granted bail amounting to P3 million each last December 15 by Branch 40 Manila Regional Trial Court Presiding Judge Rebecca Guillen-Ubana.

The suspects were charged in January 2023 in connection with the disappearance of Marlon Baccay, James Baccay, Mark Joseph Velasco, Claude Inonog, Rowel Gomez and Rondel Cristorum in 2022.

Authorities said at least 34 sabungeros were reported missing or disappeared since 2021.

The DOJ in a resolution released in December 2022 found that the six suspects conspired with each other in the disappearance of the victims on January 13, 2022.

The victims left Tanay, Rizal on the afternoon of the said date to go to the Manila Arena but were forced to board a van at around 7:30 pm.

State prosecutors said Venancio Inonog, the father of Claude, managed to call him to say that they were being forced to board a van.

The elder Inonog, according to the DOJ, also heard screaming while he was talking to his son before the line went dead.

The DOJ in December 2022 also indicted three Laguna cops – Ssgt Daryl Paghangaan and Patrolmen Roy Navarete and Rigel Brosas – for robbery and kidnapping of e-sabungero