THE National Police Commission (Napolcom) has ordered a motu proprio investigation into the alleged involvement of several active police personnel in the disappearance of over 100 cockfighting enthusiasts or sabungeros.
In a statement, Napolcom Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Attorney Rafael Calinisan said he instructed the Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service (IMIS) to look into the matter, particularly the alleged collusion between the policemen and civilian criminals in killing the victims and dumping their bodies in Taal Lake in Batangas.
Calinisan assured the public that he will not hesitate to remove from service any police personnel involved in the said crime.
He also urged the filing of a formal complaint with Napolcom to expedite the resolution of the case, in coordination with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).
In a television interview, one of the accused in the case of the missing sabungeros said he is willing to tell everything he knows about the case.
He admitted involvement in the abduction of the victims several years ago.
Initially, he revealed that not only 34 sabungeros were killed and dumped in Taal Lake in Batangas.
The accused-turned-whistleblower also implicated certain police officers, a security guard from a cockfighting arena in Manila, and a showbiz personality as the alleged masterminds behind the crime.
He said those behind these murders have the money to avoid prosecution.
The whistleblower said he chose to speak up due to threats he has been receiving after being granted temporary freedom by the court. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)