(INQUIRER)
MANILA – The National Police Commission (Napolcom) on Wednesday said it has received “feelers” related to the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of a group of “sabungeros” (cockfight aficionados).
Napolcom Vice Chairman and Executive Officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan, however, declined to divulge details about the feelers or who sent them out, but said the Napolcom was ready to secure them if they decide to cooperate with the agency.
“May mga iba kaming feelers na nakukuha. Sa totoo lang sana mag-materialize ‘yung kanilang paglapit and hopefully ‘yung kanilang paglapit na ito makapag-produce ng affidavit at maging susi rin sa ating imbestigasyon (We’ve been receiving some feelers. Honestly, we hope this materializes and hopefully leads to them come up with an affidavit that could be key to our investigation),” Calinisan said in a chance interview with reporters at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City.
Calinisan said the people who sent out the feelers got in touch with them in “a creative way.”
“Napapailing na lang din ako sa kaparaanan talaga ng ibang tao (I’m left shaking my head because of the ways of some people). Very creative,” he added.
Calinisan said a number of those who put out feelers were willing to share what they know about the case, with one of them even willing to testify.
“Mukhang malalim yung gustong lumapit. ‘Yung maaaring magtestimonya, mukhang isa. ‘Yung nagbibigay ng ibang impormasyon, marami. May sustansya. Malupit yung sustansya niya (One of them has deep knowledge and may testify, while many others were giving information. There is substance. The substance is savage),” he stressed.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) and Napolcom are also waiting for the sworn statement from whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan, alias Totoy, who claimed that around 15 police officers are linked to the case of the missing sabungeros.
Patidongan is already under the PNP’s protective custody while the implicated officers are under its restrictive custody.
“Wala pa kaming nakikita. Sadly, medyo sa kuwentuhan, more or less, alam natin ‘yung kuwento pero as to a formal document wala pa akong hawak ni isang pahina ng affidavit ni alias Totoy (We haven’t seen anything yet. Sadly, while we more or less know the story through conversations, as for a formal document, I don’t have a single page of an affidavit from alias Totoy),” Calinisan said.
The Napolcom has launched its own investigation, vowing to impose administrative sanctions – including dismissal from the service – for police officers who may be proven guilty while the Department of Justice was focusing on the criminal case.