Nine police officers have been arrested in connection with the abduction and deaths of several cockfighting enthusiasts, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group National Capital Region (CIDG-NCR) said on Wednesday.
The officers are currently held at CIDG-NCR headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, pending further legal proceedings, according to Col. John Guiagui, CIDG NCR chief.
Guiagui said the highest-ranking personnel among those detained were police lieutenant colonels, while the identities of the other officers were not disclosed.
The arrest warrants, dated January 13, were issued by the Sta. Cruz, Laguna Regional Trial Court Branch 26.
The case first gained attention last June when whistleblower Dondon Patidongan revealed alleged police involvement in the kidnappings and killings.
In December, the Department of Justice indicted gaming businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang and 21 other individuals, including 15 police officers, for their roles in the missing sabungeros case.
Guiagui noted that some implicated officers have since left or been dismissed from service, leaving the nine under CIDG custody for documentation and processing.
Authorities said police have been deployed to Ang’s properties, including those in Palawan, and emphasized that law enforcement resources would be used to serve his arrest warrant should he fail to surrender.