Former President Rodrigo Duterte has dismissed as “preposterous” the attempts to link him to the disappearance of “sabungeros” (cockfighting enthusiasts), following reports that some police officers tied to the case had also been involved in his administration’s controversial drug war.
Vice President Sara Duterte shared the former’s president’s reaction on Wednesday, July 16, following her visit to her detained father.
“Sinabihan ko siya na there is an attempt to link him to the missing sabungeros case. So, sabi niya that it’s preposterous. Yes. It’s preposterous,” she told supporters in The Hague, Netherlands, where the former president is detained for crimes against humanity.
Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla revealed that some policemen are involved both in the drug war and the missing “sabungeros” case, but he said they would have to establish clearer links first.
Whistleblower Julie Patidongan, alias “Totoy,” claimed that some missing sabungeros were executed and dumped in Taal Lake, which has now become the site of an operation to find their remains.
So far, several sacks containing alleged human remains have been retrieved from the lake.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III confirmed that human remains were found in the search operations. (Raymund Antonio)
