Missing sabungeros case: DOJ to appeal bail granted to 6 suspects

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice will appeal the ruling of a Manila court granting bail to six suspects allegedly involved in the disappearance of six sabungeros or cockfighting aficionados, DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said yesterday.

Remulla said the court “overstepped” when it granted bail to the defendants in what he called “crimes against humanity.”

“The court might be overstepping its bounds in granting bail for a crime that is akin to mass murder,” Remulla said in a press conference.

“It’s a crime against humanity, what happened. And the court should not take this lightly,” he added.

Manila Arena security guards Virgilio Bayog, Gleer Codilla, Johnry Consolacion, Roberto Matillano Jr., Julie Patidongan and Mark Carlo Zabala were freed on bail on Dec. 15.

They were allowed to post bail amounting to P3 million each by Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 40 Judge Rebecca Guillen-Ubaña.

Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Fadullon said the DOJ will exhaust all legal remedies in appealing the bail grant.

“The legal remedy available to us right now is to file a motion for reconsideration on the order of the court. Based on how the court will resolve the motion for reconsideration, then that’s the time the prosecutor will assess if we can elevate the battle on certiorari” or review, Fadullon said in a chance interview.

“One of the grounds for elevating a case for certiorari is grave abuse of discretion on the part of the presiding judge. So we will look into that,” he added.

The six defendants are on trial for six counts of kidnapping and illegal detention in connection with the disappearance of James Baccay, Marlon Baccay, Claude Inonog, Mark Joseph Velasco, Rowel Gomez and Rondel Cristorum from the Manila Arena in 2022.

At least 34 sabungeros were reported to have disappeared since 2021.