Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla mentioned Tuesday there isn’t a clear mastermind but on the case of lacking cockfight lovers.
Asked concerning the mastermind behind the disappearances throughout an interview with Super Radyo dzBB, Remulla mentioned not every thing is evident but.
“We will level to the mastermind basta might ebidensya tayo. Kasi ebidensya din lahat ‘yan. We cannot just put blame on people na wala tayong ebidensya,” he said.
(We will point to the mastermind once we have evidence. Because evidence is needed. We cannot just put the blame on people when we have no evidence.)
Remulla expressed belief the families of the missing sabungeros have accepted the fate of their loved ones.
The secretary previously said that “dead” may be a more precise term to describe the sabungeros who have been missing since 2021.
“Ang hinahanap talaga nila justice. Katarungan. Alam ko naman natanggap na nila na ganon nga. Gusto lang nila magkaroon ng katahimikan at magkaroon ng hustisya ‘yung buhay ng mga taong nawawala,” he said.
(What they are really looking for is justice. Justice. I know that they have accepted that this is the case. They only want peace and to ensure that justice will be given to their missing loved ones.)
Remulla also said he has to let the families know the consequences of every case filed.
He said a “double jeopardy” may occur should the evidence be insufficient and the presumption is that the sabungeros are alive.
Under the rule of double jeopardy, when a person is charged with an offense and the case is terminated either by acquittal or conviction or in any other manner without the consent of the accused, the latter cannot again be charged with the same or identical offense.
“Example na lang diyan ‘pag na-file-an natin ‘yan ang ebidensya sa kanila ay hindi malakas at ang presumption, baka magpresume pa na buhay pa sila, ‘pagka na-acquit ang chinarge natin diyan magkaka-double jeopardy ‘yan kahit nahanapan mo ng ebidensya pagkatapos,” he said.
(For example, if we file information and the evidence is not strong enough and the presumption is that they are alive, if they are acquitted, we will have double jeopardy even if we find additional evidence after.)
“Kaya very careful tayo sa pag deal ng topic na ito and presumption of death, I think, is necessary for us to be able to tackle this properly,” he added.
(That’s why we’re cautious in coping with this matter and the presumption of dying, I feel, is critical for us to have the ability to deal with this correctly.)
The PNP initially reported that the lacking cockfighting lovers disappeared after taking part in a cockfight in Sta. Cruz on January 13.
In early December, sabungero Michael Bautista was recognized by his spouse and his brother because the individual in a video being handcuffed by two alleged policemen exterior a cockfighting enviornment in Santa Cruz, Laguna.
The DOJ on Monday additionally mentioned it will file costs in opposition to three members of the Philippine National Police for the kidnapping of an e-sabong agent at his dwelling in San Pablo City in August 2021.—AOL, GMA Integrated News
