MANILA — The National Police Commission (Napolcom) announced Tuesday that it has found probable cause to file administrative cases against 12 police officers linked to the disappearance and presumed murder of dozens of cockfighting enthusiasts, or sabungeros.

According to Napolcom’s Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service (IMIS) Director Edman Pares, the administrative complaints are anchored on the sworn statement of self-confessed whistleblower Julie Patidongan, also known as “Alias Totoy,” along with other supporting documents and testimonies.

“Ang pinakauna naming batayan, ebidensya namin, we consider in determining whether or not there is probable cause, primarily po ‘yung affidavit na po na binigay ni Alias Totoy… Meron din kaming other documents which we will be attaching in our formal complaint,” Pares explained.

The charges include grave misconduct, irregularities in the performance of duty, and conduct unbecoming of a police officer. Two cases will be filed separately: one targets a police colonel and a lieutenant colonel for grave misconduct and neglect of duty, while the other involves 11 officers facing multiple counts of misconduct and unprofessional conduct.

If found guilty, the officers could face penalties ranging from suspension and demotion to outright dismissal with forfeiture of benefits. All accused officers have denied the allegations in their submitted affidavits.

Napolcom Vice Chairman and Executive Officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan issued a stern warning against any attempts to interfere with the case.
“Wag niyo na hong subukan. Hindi po kami nababayaran at hindi po kami takot sa inyo,” he declared.
(“Don’t even try. We cannot be bribed, and we are not afraid of you.”)

Calinisan revealed that two groups had already tried to influence the outcome of the probe. “Yung dalawang grupong nagsubok eh next time na lang po kayo… Wala pong puwang ang areglo sa kasong ito. Managinip na lang po kayo.”
(“To the two groups that tried, maybe next time. There is no room for settling this case. Just keep dreaming.”)

The commission confirmed it is working closely with the Department of Justice (DOJ), which is handling the criminal side of the case. Calinisan emphasized that coordination with DOJ Secretary Boying Remulla is ongoing to identify and pursue other non-uniformed individuals potentially involved.

“Lahat po ng ahensya ng gobyerno ay nagtutulungan para ma-solve na po natin itong sabong case na ito,” Calinisan said.
(All government agencies are working together to solve this case.)

The possibility of preventive suspension is also being considered if it is determined that the presence of the accused officers poses a risk to public safety or the integrity of the investigation. “Let’s wait for the formal charge to be filed,” Calinisan noted. “But preventive suspension is definitely on the table.”

The administrative charges remain unaffected by any forthcoming criminal charges against Patidongan or others.

The case resurfaced in national headlines after Patidongan alleged that the remains of the missing sabungeros were disposed of in Taal Lake. Since July 10, the Philippine Coast Guard has recovered five submerged bags from the lake, some containing human bones.

The mysterious disappearance of at least 30 individuals between 2021 and 2022 has been tied to alleged game-fixing in online cockfighting, or e-sabong, though reports suggest the actual number of victims could be higher.

Cockfighting, deeply embedded in Philippine culture and economy, draws millions in weekly bets from Filipinos of all backgrounds. Despite being banned in several countries, it thrived locally through online platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although then-President Rodrigo Duterte outlawed the livestreaming of cockfights in 2022, enforcement has remained weak, allowing the practice to persist in the shadows.

As the administrative proceedings move forward, authorities promise that accountability will be enforced—regardless of rank, wealth, or power. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. echoed this in his recent State of the Nation Address, vowing that those responsible “kahit malakas, mabigat o mayaman, hindi sila mangingibabaw sa batas” (no matter how powerful or wealthy, they will not be above the law).