Three police officers implicated in the purported disappearance of an e-sabong (online cockfighting) “master agent” in San Pablo City, Laguna have been placed under restrictive custody, the Philippine National Police said Wednesday.
In a radio interview, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said these cops were now under restrictive custody at the headquarters of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-4A (Calabarzon) and are set to face charges in the coming days.
“So far, the three mentioned during the Senate hearing plus the previous statements we obtained prior to this Senate hearing, we are investigating other angles. They now have a positive identification based on the missing master agent. The other policemen we are investigating are included if we are to ask our investigators because we are still waiting for some reports to confirm their participation,” Fajardo said.
Fajardo added the police provincial director of Laguna, Col. Rogart Campo, had been relieved after he allegedly received P1 million from businessman Atong Ang as revealed during a Senate hearing.
Ang accused Campo of taking part in the supposed conspiracy against him by other e-sabong stakeholders.
At least two police officers, Pat. Roy Navarete and Staff Sgt. Daryl Paghangaan, were identified by some relatives of the e-sabong “master agent” Ricardo Lasco as among those who abducted him in August last year.
Prior to the Senate hearing on the disappearances of over 30 cockfight enthusiasts, Fajardo said the cops had been relieved from their posts over their alleged involvement in the incidents.
Aside from Navarete and Paghangaan, the PRO-4A also identified Master Sgt. Michael Claveria as one of the involved cops.
PRO-4A chief Brig. General Antonio Yarra said he already ordered the relief of the three police personnel from their present assignments and had them transferred to the regional headquarters.
“We will make sure that all facts and information regarding this matter will be taken into consideration for the quick resolution of these cases and to give justice to the families of the missing victims,” he said.
For his part, PNP Public Information Office chief Brig. Gen. Roderick Alba said the PNP would not take the witnesses’ accounts lightly but would make sure that due process would be upheld.
PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos has been reminding police personnel to refrain from engaging in e-sabong and other gambling activities.
Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation filed Wednesday with the Department of Justice a complaint for kidnapping against a
Nigerian national and three others for allegedly illegally taking a nine-month-old baby girl who was reportedly sold by her mother to pay off her e-sabong debts.
Subjected to inquest proceedings before the DOJ-National Prosecution Service were Nigerian national Ifeanyi Okoro, alias Maxwell Bright, and Imelda Malibiran, both residents of Barangay Gatid, Sta. Cruz, Laguna.
Two other alleged respondents remain at large namely, Kristine Joyce Esdrelon, of no. 24 Interior 3 Mendez Road, Baesa, Quezon City; and Rosemarie Gutierrez, of no. 27 Summerville, Illinois St., Nagpayong II, Barangay Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City.
The NBI is also checking if Okoro is a member of a bigger syndicate engaged in child trafficking.
The baby was allegedly sold by her 22-year-old mother for P45,000 to pay off her gambling debts, after reportedly being addicted to online sabong (cockfighting).
After she received the cash, the baby’s mother said she reportedly had a change of heart and texted her baby’s buyer. She wanted to return the money, and get her daughter back, but the number was already blocked.