Suspect claims 34 missing ‘sabungeros’ strangled, buried in Taal Lake

National

ONE of the suspects in the high-profile case of the 34 missing cockfighting aficionado has come forward and revealed some harrowing details.

In an interview aired Tuesday, June 17, on GMA News' 24 Oras, the suspect, identified only as "Totoy," said the victims were strangled with wire and were buried in Taal Lake.

Totoy is one of the six security guards from the Manila Arena, where the sabungeros were last seen alive in 2022.

He said he decided to speak up due to threats to his family and now wants to turn state witness. Totoy also promised to name the mastermind behind the killings "in due time."

According to him, the victims were allegedly involved in game-fixing during cockfights. He claimed they were turned over to another group and further alleged that drug lords were also buried in the same lake.

The Department of Justice has since pushed for the re-arrest of the six suspects, who were earlier charged with kidnapping and serious illegal detention.

The Court of Appeals has canceled their bail, which had been granted by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 40.

The Philippine National Police identified the six suspects as Julie Patidongan, Gleer Codilla, Mark Carlo Zabala, Virgilio Bayog, Johnry Consolacion, and Roberto Matillano Jr. (Jocel Tuanson, CNU Comm. Intern)