By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) is currently keeping an eye out for the four of the six suspects involved in the disappearance of six “sabungeros” or cockfight enthusiasts in January last year.
NOCPPO spokesperson Captain Judesses Catalogo said yesterday that the four suspects are from Negros Occidental, and they have alerted their police stations in the cities of Kabankalan, Himamaylan and Talisay, and the towns of Hinigaran and Binalbagan.
Catalogo said once the national headquarters issues a wanted bulletin, they have an automatic database wherein all police units will be alerted nationwide.
NOCPPO is also coordinating with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for the arrest of the suspects.
However, Catalogo said they believe the suspects may have already left the province.
The four may return to the province in the future, he said.
They will immediately be transported to Metro Manila if they are arrested in Negros Occidental to face charges, he added.
On Friday, February 17, the Philippine National Police headquarters released the pictures of the six wanted persons connected to the disappearance of the sabungeros in January of last year.
Four of the suspects, identified as Mark Carlo Zabala, Roberto Matillano Jr., Johnry Consolacion, and Virgilio Bayog, are residents of Negros Occidental.
Also wanted are Julie “Dondon” Patidongan and Gleer “Gler Cudilla” Codilla.
The six also have a bounty of P1 million each and will be given to anyone who can give information to the police about their whereabouts.
In December last year, the six suspects were indicted for the disappearance of some “sabungeros” in Rizal province’s Tanay town.
They were accused of being responsible for the abduction of cockfight enthusiasts James Baccay, Marlon Baccay, Rondel Cristorum, Mark Joseph Velasco, and Rowel Gomez.
The Department of Justice said prosecutors found probable cause to charge the accused with six counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code./With a report from ABS-CBN News/DGB, WDJ