Suspect emerges in 'Lost Sabungeros' case due to security threat, claims victims buried in Taal Lake
Four years after 34 sabungeros from various parts of the Philippines went missing, new details have emerged about their disappearance.
On Sunday's episode of "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho," one of the accused in the case, "Alyas Totoy," claimed that the abduction and killings of the missing sabungeros were linked to the owner of the cockpit and online sabong operations.
"Lahat ng miyembro, kasali sila at kasama ang mga anak niya," he said.
["All the members are involved, including their children."]
"Siya ang nagre-release ng pera sa butcher. Halimbawa, mag-request ako ng P2,000,000, 'yung anak niya ang nag-a-approve sa lahat," he added.
["He's the one who releases the money to the butcher. For example, if I request ?2,000,000, it's his child who approves all of it."]
According to Alyas Totoy, he's only coming forward now because of the slow pace of the legal process and threats to his own security and his family's safety.
He claimed that a P20 million bounty was placed on him and that his family was threatened.
"Sabihin ko lahat ng alam ko dahil binantaan mo na pati pamilya ko. Tanggap ko na sa sarili ko na patayin mo ako. Huwag mo lang idamay ang mag-ina ko," he said.
["I'll tell you everything I know because (they've) already threatened my family. I've accepted it on my own that you're going to kill me. Just don't involve my wife and child."]
Alyas Totoy then boldly stated the fate of the missing sabungeros in an interview with Emil Sumangil.
When asked if they were still alive, he responded, "Paano mabubuhay 'yan e nakabaon na doon sa Taal Lake?"
["How can they still be alive if they are buried beneath Taal Lake?"]
He elaborated that the method of killing was 'killing me softly,' which involved twisting tie wires around their necks.
"Kung huhukayin 'yun, mga buto-buto na lang," he said.
["If you dig it up, you'll only find bones."]
"Paano natin makilala na sila 'yun? At hindi lang ang missing sabungero tinatapon doon, pati mga drug lord, tinatapon doon," he claimed.
["How would we even know it's them? It's not just the missing sabungeros who are being dumped— drug lords are thrown in too."]
According to Alyas Totoy, the missing sabungeros were those caught "nantityope" or cheating in cockfights by weakening their own roosters and betting on their opponents' roosters.
He described the process where he would pick up these sabungeros and bring them to rooms in places like Lipa, where they would be tied with plastic ties and loaded into vans per group.
He also claimed to have heard direct orders over the phone to kill them, saying, "Wala tayong magagawa kung hindi natin patayin 'yan. Patuloy na lolokohin tayo ng mga 'yan."
["We have no choice but to kill them. If we don't, they'll just keep deceiving us. "]
In a phone call with Carmen and Ederline Malacca, mother and sibling of Edgardo Malacca Jr., one of the missing sabungeros, Alyas Totoy confirmed: "Wala na po tayong pag-asa na mabuhay pa ang anak n'yo. Dahil wala na siya."
["We have no hope that your son is still alive—because he's already gone."]
Alyas Totoy believes that 108 sabungeros were killed during his "term," although only 34 were investigated, possibly because he believes the other families were too afraid to come forward.
However, some families are reported to have settled their cases financially.
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice expressed its openness to placing Alyas Totoy under the Witness Protection Program.
"Papakinggan namin siya at bibigyan ng proteksyon," Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said.
["We will listen to him and ensure his protection."]
As of writing, seven cases of kidnapping and serious illegal detention have been filed by the DOJ, with many other cases still under investigation by the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the National Bureau of Investigation. —GMA Integrated News
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