AT least 20 “sabungeros” have gone missing without a trace in different cockpit arenas in Manila, Laguna and Quezon provinces.

Police investigators are baffled on who are behind their mysterious disappearances.

The Journal Group was told that some “persons of interest” are being eyed by Philippine National Police investigators as they begin to connect the “dot” on the mystery behind the disappearance of the victims.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año, according to Palace spokesperson Carlo Nograles, was ordered to lead the probe on the missing “sabungeros.”

Año tapped Philippine National Police chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos to fully support the investigation.

As of press time, police are looking into the possibility that the three separate cases of involuntary disappearance could be related to each other.

The “sabungeros” were believed to have been abducted for their purported “game-fixing” activities, which infuriated some persons.

Those behind the disappearances of the “sabungeros” are believed to be armed since they easily took the victims without any resistance.

There were reports that some rogue active and dismissed law enforcement agents could be behind the spate of abductions.

The PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group headed by Maj. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro earlier launched an investigation into the mysterious disappearance of Marlon and James Baccay, Mark Joseph Velasco, Rondel Cristorum, Rowel Gomez and John Calude Inonog after they went to the Manila Arena in Sta. Ana, Manila around 1 a.m. last January 14.

The families of the six missing men have appealed to the national government to help them find their missing kin.

Inonog, according to CIDG National Capital Region Field Unit chief Col. Randy Glenn Silvio was the driver of a Toyota Tamaraw FX, which was rented by the five missing “sabungeros.”

Silvio said that the father of Inonog claimed that his son called him up in his cellphone and told him that his five passengers were being forced into a van by a group of men. That was the last call made by the driver to his family as he too also went missing.

CCTV recordings in the area showed the Tamaraw FX leaving the Manila cockpit arena while being followed by two vans.

The Tamaraw FX was later found abandoned on Sampaloc Highway in Tanay, Rizal.

Silvio said they want to take the full statement of the cockpit security guards and get a copy of its CCTV recording before and during the time the three vehicles left the place.

He said that a financier of the missing “sabungeros,” particularly the Baccay brothers, is now being considered a “person of interest” in the victims’ disappearance.

Silvio said they are seeking the full assistance of investigators from the Manila Police District and the Quezon and Laguna Police Provincial Offices in probing the mysterious disappearance of the victims just hours apart.

Reported to be missing after going in a cockpit arena in Sta. Cruz, Laguna last January 13 were Mark Paul Fernandine, Melbert John Santos, Ferdinand Dizon and Manny Magbanua.

Last January 6, two residents of Calumpit, Bulacan identified as Edgar Malaca and Alexander Quijano also disappeared while on their way to a Batangas cockpit arena in a white van. The van was found abandoned in Calumpit three days later.