INVESTIGATE further the officials of Lucky 8 Star Quest Inc., including its owner, gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang.
This was one of the recommendations of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs contained in its report on their investigation on the cases of missing cockfight betting (sabong) enthusiasts (sabungero).
The committee, headed by Senator Ronald dela Rosa, asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to further investigate the officials, including Ang, “whose name was repeatedly mentioned by witnesses” in four hearings conducted by the committee.
The Lucky 8 Star Quest Inc. operates the cockpit arenas in Manila, Laguna and Batangas where some of the missing sabungeros were last seen.
The committee also asked the CIDG and the NBI to probe those individuals who intentionally gave false and fabricated information to mislead the investigators.
It said once there is sufficient evidence, charges of obstruction of justice, false testimony and other appropriate charges should be filed against these individuals.
“For the PNP and NBI, to continue investigating all reported cases of missing persons in relation to e-sabong activities until they are finally resolved,” the committee recommended.
In the course of the committee hearing, several witnesses identified the security personnel of Ang’s cockpit arenas as involved in the abduction of some of the victims.
The CIDG is investigating eight incidents involving the disappearances of 34 sabungeros.
On March 18, it filed charges of serious illegal detention and kidnapping against Mark Carlo Evangelista, Virgilio Pilar Bayog, Roberto Matillano Jr., Jonas Alegre Alingasa, Johnry Recapor Consolacion, Herolden Alonto, Gler Cudilla, a certain “Dondon,” an alias “Sir Chief” and six John Does, all security personnel of the Manila Arena, over the disappearance on January 13 of John Claud Inonog, Marlon Baccay and his brother James, Mark Joseph Velsco, Rondel Cristorum and Rowel Gomez, all from Tanay, Rizal.
This was based on the testimony of an eye witness.
Charges of serious illegal detention/kidnapping and robbery were filed also before the Department of Justice against five policemen identified as Daryl Paghangaan, Roy Navarete, Henry Sasaluya, Michael Claveria and Regil Brosas, as well as several John Does over the disappearance of Ricardo Lasco, an e-sabong master agent who was abducted from his residence in San Pedro, Laguna in 2021.
In defense, Ang said the allegations being thrown against him were part of a conspiracy plan by his business rivals to put him down.
He maintained his innocence in any of the cases.
The committee also said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) through the PNP should continue to monitor and stop any possible illegal and unauthorized conduct of e-sabong in accordance with the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte on the suspension of its operations.
The PNP earlier said that it is intensifying operations against e-sabong, noting that several websites devoted to the operations of such have either been identified or shut down.
It said the identification and case build-up against the people behind these websites is ongoing.
“In case the next administration decides to allow the operation of e-sabong, there is a need to craft a law regulating the e-sabong industry which includes, among others, limiting e-sabong operations to Sundays and legal holidays, almost similar to that provided in Presidential Decree No. 449 or the Cockfighting Law of 1974,” read the report.
“Such regulation will also include clear delineation of powers and functions of government agencies involved in sabong, strict implementation of imposition of taxes to e-sabong operators and its agents, and installation of CCTV cameras not only in betting station but as well as in areas where the actual cockfighting are being conducted,” it added.
The committee said there is also a need to institutionalize the reward system for persons who witnessed and has actual knowledge of the commission of a crime to aid the law enforcement agency in the conduct of operation and to further increase the penalty for obstruction of justice. (SunStar Philippines)