The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) will be filing charges against six people who were "positively identified" by a witness to be involved in the missing persons case at the Manila Arena.
"This week, maisasampa na po 'yung kaso dito po 'yung insidente kung saan napaulat na may nawawalang anim na sabungero dito sa Manila Arena," Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Pcol. Jean Fajardo told DZRH.
(This week, the case will be filed on the incident at the Manila Arena where six people reportedly disappeared.)
According to Fajardo, the six individuals, who are security personnel of the Manila Arena, will be charged with kidnapping and serious illegal detention.
The spokesperson cited in the case a witness currently under the CIDG, who said that they saw the event where six sabungeros were abducted and loaded into a vehicle on the day of their disappearance.
Fajardo said they are still investigating the case, especially if the security personnel were linked to a bigger group.
"Aalamin natin kung ito bang mga security personnel ay hired po ng mismong Manila Arena o ika nga outsourcing ng ibang agency," she said.
(We will determine if these security personnel are hired by Manila Arena or are outsourced by another agency.)
"'Yung kanila pong association, 'yung kanila pong link, 'yun po 'yung magiging subject for further investigation to determine the possible criminal liability ng kanilang management," she added.
(Their association, their links, it will be the subject for further investigation to determine the possible criminal liability of their management.)
Meanwhile, Fajardo said investigators in the Laguna missing persons case that is also linked to e-sabong are gaining grounds on their ongoing probe.
According to the spokesperson, they already filed charge of obstruction of justice against a person of interest who refused to cooperate in the investigation.
"However, very good to naman to hear from the investigating bodies diyan sa Laguna na may magaganda po silang sinusundan na lead ngayon," Fajardo said.
(However, it is very good to hear from the investigating bodies in Laguna that they are now following a lead.)
"Hopefully in the coming days ay makasampa na rin po tayo ng kaso patungkol na rin po related na rin po sa pagkawalang ilang sabungero," she added.
(Hopefully in the coming days, we can file a case on the this, which is related to the missing sabungeros.)
There are currently 34 missing people who are linked to sabong, according to authorities, and Malacañang already ordered a "thorough investigation" over the matter.
