PNP urged to hasten probe on missing cockfight players (Latest Sabong News)

DAET, Camarines Norte, Philippines — It’s about time the Philippine National Police (PNP) made progress in its investigation into the case of the 31 missing cockfight players especially that some of the victims disappeared months ago, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said yesterday. Lacson, a former PNP chief now gunning for the presidency, said police investigators should have started looking into the matter since the first reported abduction in April last year. “They should speed up the investigation because the disappearance of 31 (people) is not normal. If you cannot resolve any of the 31 cases, that says a lot of the capability of the PNP,” Lacson said in a press conference here. He said he is relying on the commitment of PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos to resolve the cases at the soonest possible time. Lacson’s running mate for vice president, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, told the same press conference that he was able to speak with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea over the phone yesterday and talked about Duterte’s decision to suspend online cockfight betting or e-sabong operations. Medialdea told him that Duterte is just waiting for the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs’ resolution calling for the suspension of e-sabong as well as the recommendation of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), which issues licenses for online cockfights. Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian described as a proactive approach the Senate resolution calling for the suspension of e-sabong operations to thwart new cases of disappearance of individuals engaged in online cockfighting. Gatchalian, co-author of the filed Senate Resolution No. 996, urged Pagcor to heed the senators’ call. “The lives of our countrymen are being considered by the Senate,” the reelectionist said in Filipino. “But it is even more alarming that the investigators did not mention who was behind these events.” The resolution was pushed by Sotto and Lacson and is now being circulated for signatures of members of the committee, chaired by Sen. Ronald dela Rosa. The committee held an inquiry last week on the case of the missing players. It is scheduled to hold another hearing on Friday. Former PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar, who is running under the Lacson-Sotto ticket, reminded police officers of the code of ethics which prohibits them from engaging in gambling even if such games are legal. Yesterday, Carlos vowed to impose a one-strike policy on police commanders whose subordinates are caught playing e-sabong and warned of penalties against them. To ensure strict compliance, he ordered an inspection of cell phones and gadgets of police personnel and warned unit commanders that they will be relieved of their posts if found to be engaged in e-sabong. Col. Jean Fajardo, PNP spokesperson, said the directive is based on the doctrine of command responsibility. “Their commander will be automatically relieved of his post, pending investigation to see if there was negligence in terms of supervision,” she said in Filipino. Meanwhile, Pagcor Chairman and CEO Andrea Domingo said that while it has not yet received the order from the President, the gaming firm is ready to enforce a suspension order covering e-sabong. “We heard about this but there is no communication yet from the OP (Office of the President),” Domingo told The STAR last Tuesday. “We will implement what OP instructs.” The are seven e-sabong operators sanctioned by Pagcor: Lucky 8 Star Quest, Inc., which carries the brand “Pitmaster Live” of gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang; Belvedere Vista Corp., which operates with the online brand Sabong Express, said to be owned by controversial gambling lord Rodolfo “Bong” Pineda; the Visayas Cockers Club Inc., with the brand Sabong International Ph; Jade Entertainment and Gaming Technologies Inc., which has the brand Jade Sabong; Newin Cockers Alliance Gaming Corp., which has the NCA online brand; Philippine Cockfighting International Inc., which has the brand Platinum Cockers Club, and the Golden Buzzer Inc. which has the online brand Bagwisan. – Em