CIDG conducts deeper probe on missing cockfighters

AN additional 10 cockfight enthusiasts from Bulacan had gone missing, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Friday.

This is aside from the 10 reported disappearances of cockfighters earlier in Laguna and Manila.

PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Bernardo Carlos said he has instructed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to conduct a deeper probe into the incidents.

“The plot thickens when ten men from Bulacan, who were engaged in a cockfight, are added to the list of missing individuals. Their kin said that it has been more than eight months now since their disappearance,” Carlos said in a statement.

He added that based on initial investigations, the 10 men went to the same cockfighting arena in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

Earlier, the PNP said four men were reported as missing after they went to a cock derby in Sta. Cruz on January 13.

Carlos said they will use whatever initial information that they have to look for the missing persons.

“CCTV footage from the arena showed that the vehicle used by the victims was seen exiting the coliseum but it was not clear if the victims were inside the vehicle,” he said.

Carlos said that on the same day, six men also went missing after taking part in a cockfighting event in Manila.

Carlos said there is a pattern to the disappearances.

“The CIDG is now connecting the dots. These incidents do have a lot in common. We will find out if there is a syndicate behind these cases,” Carlos said.

The CIDG has issued an appeal to the owners of the cockfighting arena to help them identify the possible handlers or financiers of the missing men to aid them in their investigation.