DOJ eyes going to higher court in missing sabungeros’ case

The Department of Justice (DOJ) said it is eyeing to go to a higher court to reverse a Manila court decision that junked its motion questioning the granting of bail to the six accused in the case of missing sabungeros (cockfighting enthusiasts).

“We will exhaust all possible legal remedies. We will go to the higher court on this matter,” said DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla in Saleema Refran’s 24 Oras report on Monday.

Last week, Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 40 denied “for lack of merit” the motion of reconsideration that state prosecutors filed against the granting of the bail petition of the accused in the disappearance of the sabungeros in 2022.

In December 2023, the Manila Regional Trial Court allowed the 6 accused to post a bail of P3 million.

“Even just the fact that they hid from the law and did not surrender. This shows a point against them, that they should not have been granted bail,” said Remulla. 

Meanwhile, Remulla said the DOJ will meet with the victims’ families for the monthly case conference after they lamented the lack of updates on their kin’s case. 

The case conferences stopped due to medical grounds– Remulla is recovering from complications to his immune system due to his bypass operation last year.

“Hindi kami titigil. We will try to obtain justice the way that we promised them,” said the Justice secretary.

(We will not cease. We will try to obtain justice the way that we promised them.)—Sundy Locus/RF, GMA Integrated News