By Benjamin Pulta

Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon (PNA file photo)

MANILA – Prosecutors have formally asked the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) to order the arrest of six persons charged in connection with the disappearance of six “sabungeros” (cockfight enthusiasts) from an arena in 2022.

Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon told reporters Wednesday that prosecutors made the manifestation during a hearing on Tuesday before the Manila RTC Branch 40.

“It was orally manifested in the hearing yesterday,” Fadullon said.

The prosecutors cited the Court of Appeals’ December 20, 2024 ruling saying the Manila court gravely abused its discretion when it granted the respondents’ petition for bail despite the presence of strong evidence against them.

“We emphasize that when the grant of bail is a matter of discretion, not a matter of right, the power must be exercised with great care and caution because of the risk and stakes involved, especially when the crime is a serious one,” the CA, through Associate Justice Apolinario Bruselas Jr., said.

“Within the above statutory and jurisprudential parameters, the Court rules that grave abuse of discretion attended the respondent judge’s grant of the private respondents’ petition for bail. There is strong evidence of the private respondents’ guilt for the crime charged,” the CA also said.

The six accused are Julie Patidongan, Mark Carlo Zabala, Virgilio Bayog, Roberto Matillano Jr., Gleer Cedilla and Johnry Consolacion.

They are charged with kidnapping and serious illegal detention in connection with the missing “sabungeros.”

The six were security personnel at the Manila Arena cockpit where video footage showed the six victims – Mark Joseph Velasco, Marlon Baccay, James Baccay, John Calude Inonog, Rowel Gomez and Rondel Cristorum – being led to a van by them.

A witness, Denmark Sinfuego, said he saw the victims being brought to the basement of the Manila Arena, after which they were made to board a gray van. (PNA)