Malacañang stated that government prosecutors and law enforcement officials will continue to conduct an exhaustive investigation into the case of 34 missing cockfighters, also known as sabungeros, to ensure that justice is served.

“Ipagpatuloy po ang malalimang pag-iimbestiga para malaman kung sino ba talaga ang sangkot dito at mapanagot ang dapat mapanagot,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing on Wednesday.

Castro said the Department of Justice (DOJ) is evaluating four potential witnesses.

“Mayroon pong apat na witnesses na maaaring tumulong, pero kailangan pa nilang i-evaluate ang mga testimony nila para malaman kung sino iyong puwedeng maging state witness,” she said.

Malacañang believes that the case of the 34 missing sabungeros will be resolved according to the rule of law.

“Naniniwala po tayo sa integridad ng ating korte at ito ay masusolusyunan na naaayon sa batas at naaayon sa rule of law,” Castro said when asked about reports linking influential personalities into the case.

A total of 34 cockfighters were reported missing from 2021 to 2022.

According to the police, the 34 sabungero were kidnapped allegedly due to their involvement in cockfight match fixing or cheating.

One of the six suspects recently claimed in a TV interview that the 34 sabungeros have been killed and their remains were dumped in Taal Lake. | PND