The National Police Commission (Napolcom) announced on Tuesday that the agency has found probable cause to file administrative charges against 12 police officers implicated in the case of the missing cockfighting enthusiasts (sabungero).
In a press briefing held at the Napolcom Building in Quezon City, Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Commissioner Rafael Vicente R. Calinisan confirmed that formal administrative charges were filed on July 29 against the officers, based on filed complaints by the family of missing individuals, evidence and witness testimonies, including those from whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan and the families of the victims.
“Administrative charges against them were filed today at the NAPOLCOM Legal Affairs Service (LAS), which will soon be elevated for disposition by the NAPOLCOM En Banc,” Napolcom said in a Facebook post.
According to the report by RH Val Gonzales, the charges filed against the 12 officers include grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer. One of the officers, Police Colonel Jacinto Malinao Jr., is facing an additional count of grave neglect of duty. The group includes three police commissioned officers and nine non-commissioned officers.
Aside from Malinao, Napolcom Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service (IMIS) Director Edman Pares has revealed the names of the 11 officers, and the same individuals had already been identified during the initial filing of the case and were previously mentioned in the sworn affidavit of Patidongan.
The following are the names of the police officers involved in the missing sabungeros case:
- PLt. Col. Ryan Jay Eliab Orapa
- PMaj. Mark Philip Simborio Almedilla
- Police Executive Master Sgt. Aaron Ezrah Lahagit Cabillan
- Police Chief Master Sgt. Arturo Opalla Dela Cruz Jr.
- Police Staff Master Sgt. Joey Natanauan Encarnacion
- Police Staff Master Sgt. Mark Anthony Aguilo Manrique
- Police Staff Master Sgt. Anderson Orozco Abary
- Police Staff Sgt. Alfredo Uy Andes
- Police Staff Sgt. Edmon Hernandez Muñoz
- Police Cpl. Angel Joseph Ferro Martin
- Police Staff Sgt. Renan Lagrosa Fulgencio
Meanwhile, Napolcom said that the decision to impose preventive suspension or other disciplinary sanctions against the police officers now rests with the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Calinisan said the Napolcom has fulfilled its mandate by conducting a thorough investigation and filing administrative cases against the 12 officers based on evidence and witness testimonies.
The Napolcom IMIS carried out the inquiry and submitted the case for summary dismissal proceedings, which will now proceed before the NAPOLCOM Legal Affairs Service.
On the other hand, Calinisan lauded President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.'s strong pronouncement in the case of missing cockfighting enthusiasts and promised that the government will go after every individual involved, whether civilian or official, during his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 28.
"Coming from the speech of President yesterday sa kanyang SONA kami ay sobrang na-inspire doon sa kanyang mensahe na talagang malalagot ang dapat managot at kami ay nabuhayan at walang takot namin iimbestigahan ang kaso ng missing sabungersat thank you Mr. President for your all out support to all agencies involved in the investigation of sabong case," he said.
