THE Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) has alerted the police stations all over the province regarding the four Negrenses who were among the six suspects tagged in the disappearance of six "sabungeros," or cockfight players, in Luzon.
NOCPPO spokesperson Capt. Judesses Catalogo said Sunday morning, February 19, that they have alerted the police stations in the cities of Kabankalan, Himamaylan, Talisay, and the towns of Hinigaran and Binalbagan.
Catalogo said they have an automatic database that, once the national headquarters issue a wanted bulletin, all police units will be alerted nationwide.
NOCPPO is also coordinating with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) for the immediate arrest of the four if they are spotted.
However, Catalogo said they have a strong reason to believe that the four may have already left the province, either shortly or after the wanted poster was released, although they may return to the province in the future.
In the event that the four are successfully tracked down and arrested in Negros Occidental, Catalogo said the four will immediately be transported back to Metro Manila to face the charges.
On Friday, February 17, the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters released pictures of the six wanted persons connected to the disappearance of the sabungeros in January last year.
The four Negrenses were identified as Mark Carlo Zabala, Roberto Matillano Jr., Johnry Consolacion, and Virgilio Bayog.
The other two suspects were Julie "Dondon" Patidongan, and Gleer "Gler Cudilla" Codilla.
The six also have a bounty of P1 million each, and the reward will be given to anyone who can give solid information regarding the whereabouts of the suspects that will lead to their arrest.
Since May 2021, 34 cockfight enthusiasts or players have disappeared in different areas of Luzon.
Of the missing, 19 are from Laguna, six are from Manila, six are from Batangas, and two are from Bulacan. One of them, who was from Laguna, was confirmed to have been kidnapped.