The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) is ramping up efforts to bring justice in the mysterious disappearance of cockfighting enthusiasts, known locally as sabungeros, by urging a key whistleblower to come forward officially.
Julie “Dondon” Patidongan, also known by the alias Totoy, recently made waves after alleging that several police officers were directly involved in the high-profile disappearances. Now, NAPOLCOM is calling on him to formalize his statements through a sworn affidavit.
“Filing the affidavit with NAPOLCOM would speed up the process threefold,” said NAPOLCOM Vice Chairperson Atty. Rafael Calinisan in a radio interview. “We handle administrative investigations, and if he files here, it will go straight to the point without getting delayed by appeals.”
Calinisan emphasized that the commission is not just authorized but duty-bound to investigate officers within its ranks. “We are the police of the police. We cannot ignore this,” he said.
The commission has already compiled a list of police officers suspected of being linked to the disappearances and is preparing to summon them for an administrative investigation. Calinisan noted that the process must be approached with utmost caution, as any decision made by NAPOLCOM could have long-term implications.
“We’re not only investigating; we’re also laying the groundwork for a formal administrative ruling,” he said. “Regardless of where the case originates, it will eventually land in our jurisdiction.”
Adding urgency to the issue, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla recently confirmed that 15 police officers allegedly involved in the extrajudicial killings related to the missing sabungeros have been placed under restricted duty. This move signals a growing resolve across agencies to hold those responsible accountable.
The call for Patidongan to submit an affidavit could become a turning point in a case that has sparked national outrage and shaken public confidence in law enforcement. With formal testimony and NAPOLCOM’s involvement, the long-sought answers in the sabungeros case may finally begin to surface.