DOJ wants rearrest of persons involved in missing sabungeros

Court asked to order rearrest of persons involved in missing sabungeros

/ 07:21 PM January 29, 2025

Court asked to order rearrest of persons involved in missing sabungeros

Department of Justice facade. PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK

MANILA, Philippines The Department of Justice (DOJ) has asked the Manila Regional Trial Court to order the rearrest of six persons believed to be involved in the disappearance of six sabungeros (cockfighting enthusiasts).

Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon said they made the manifestation in a hearing on Tuesday.

Article continues after this advertisement

Sought to be rearrested were Julie Patidongan, Mark Carlo Zabala, Virgilio Bayog, Roberto Matillano Jr., Gleer Cordilla, and Johnry Consolacion. They are facing cases for kidnapping and serious illegal detention following the disappearance of the six sabungeros in 2022.

FEATURED STORIES

All the accused were allowed to post bail for their temporary liberty in 2023, but the grant of bail order was challenged before the Court of Appeals which reversed the Manila court’s ruling.

The Court of Appeals, in a December 2024 ruling, said the Manila court committed grave abuse of discretion when it allowed all the accused to post bail despite strong evidence of their involvement.

Article continues after this advertisement

“We emphasize that when the grant of bail is a matter of discretion, not a matter of right, the power must be exercised with great care and caution because of the risk and stakes involved, especially when the crime is a serious one,” the CA said in a ruling written by Associate Justice Apolinario Bruselas Jr.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Within the above statutory and jurisprudential parameters, the Court rules that grave abuse of discretion attended the respondent judge’s grant of the private respondents’ petition for bail. There is strong evidence of the private respondents’ guilt for the crime charged,” it added.

The missing sabungeros were identified as Mark Joseph Velasco, Marlon Baccay, James Baccay, Rowel Gomez, John Claude Inonog, and Rondel Cristorum.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

TAGS: DoJ, sabungeros

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2025 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.