As the House Quad Committee (QuadComm) nears its revival for the 20th Congress, Manila 6th District Representative Bienvenido “Benny” Abante said the Committee will probe the missing sabungeros case.
On Monday, July 14, RH Milky Rigonan reported that the QuadComm will resume its hearings once the 20th Congress convenes on July 28. Abante stated that the Committee plans on including the issue of the disappearances of 34 sabungeros.
The lawmaker pointed out that hearings on the said issue are part of the scope of extrajudicial killings (EJKs). Moreover, the Committee is considering the possibility of inviting Julie Patidongan, also known by the alias Totoy, as a resource person.
Patidongan previously claimed that the bodies of the missing sabungeros were thrown into the Taal Lake. He also alleged that various personalities, such as businessman Atong Ang and his former partner, Gretchen Barretto, were involved in the incident.
Ang had previously denied all allegations pointing to him as the mastermind behind the disappearances. Regardless, Abante said the Committee is planning to invite the businessman to their hearings.
Meanwhile, the retrieval and search operations led by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for the remains of the victims began last week. Several sacks were found by PCG personnel during their dive.
Authorities are also coordinating with the forensic team to determine the validity of the skeletal remains.
The QuadComm paused its series of hearings before the end of the 19th Congress. The Committee Chairman, Robert Ace Barbers, revealed in an interview with reporters in June that more personalities were recommended for prosecution in their final report.
According to Barbers, the said personalities had involvement in the illegal operations, specifically the EJKs. He also stated that the Committee will be dubbed QuadComm 2.0 once the 20th Congress convenes.
