Kin of missing sabungeros urge Senate to reopen case

Some family members of the missing sabungeros called on the Senate to reopen the case of of their loved ones, according to Emil Sumangil’s 24 Oras report on Thursday.

“Lalo na si Senator Joel (Villanueva), di ba talaga Bulacan siya? Ilang taga Bulacan ang nawala, sana mapansin niya kami, pati na yung ibang Senador,” said mother of Kiel Bohol, who had been missing for three years.

(Especially Senator Joel, isn’t he from Bulacan? Many people from Bulacan have disappeared; I hope he notices us, as well as the other Senators.)

They also said that the regular case conference at the Department of Justice has completely disappeared.

“Ang huling patawag, nung mahuli ang mga gwardiya, eh ngayon nakapag bail na, parang kamiy bale wala na rin,” said another relative.

(The last time they called us was when the guards were caught; now that they have posted bail, we seem to have been forgotten.)

From Bulacan, the missing sabungeros went to Santa Cruz, Laguna to attend a cockfight. They  even appeared in a video inside a cockhouse before they disappeared.

One of them, Glenn Germar, even managed to call his wife.

“Bakit ayaw mo pa lumabas? E na hold na pala sila, eh nandun kasi yung gate pass sa kasamahan niya. Sabi ni Glenn, nandito ako sa mga puno, nagtatago ako rito, yun ang huling sabi, hindi na ma-contact ang cellphone nila,” said Glenn’s mother, Marilyn Germas.

(Why don’t you go out yet? It turns out that they were kept on hold because his gate pass was with one of his companions. Glenn said he was hiding among the trees, “I’m hiding here”, that’s the last thing he said. We could no longer contact them on their cell phones.)

They are asking the Philippine National Police Special- Investigation Task Group to consider the video as evidence in order to continue the investigation.

“Kinuha lang po nila yung video, pero wala silang binanggit. Gagawa raw sila ng aksyon, ewan ko kung ano yun,” Marilyn added.

(They just took the video, but they didn’t mention anything. They said they would take action, but I don’t know what it is.)

“Ang sabi po kasi nila sa amin, ipasa dahil ebidensiya raw yun, hanggang dun na lang daw po at wala na silang update,” said another relative of a missing sabungero.

(They told us to submit it because it’s evidence, they said that was it, and there were no more updates.)

GMA Integrated News reached out to PNP-SITG for comment.

The families also hope that if the case is reopened, they are requesting that only one investigating team be in charge.

“Back to zero na naman, iba na naman ang may hawak na ng kaso, umpisa na naman sila, tatanungin na naman kami paulit ulit, walang mangyayari. Sana at least, hindi na babalik sa umpisa,” said a relative.

(We will go back to zero again if someone else will be in charge of the case, and they will start again. We will be asked again and again, and nothing will happen. Hopefully, at least it won’t go back to the beginning.)

But despite their frustrations, the families all hope that they will get justice for their missing loved ones.—Sherylin Untalan/RF, GMA Integrated News