Estomo vows close cooperation with NBI
On probe of 11 NCRPO cops over missing ‘sabungeros’
NATIONAL Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Brigadier General Jonnel C. Estomo on Friday vowed full cooperation with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in its effort to solve the case of four missing “sabungeros” (cockfighting aficionados) in Cavite province.
“The NCRPO and the whole PNP (Philippine National Police) Organization in general deeply condemns all forms of flagrant violation against human rights, law and order. The investigation [of] incidents reported about missing ‘sabungeros’ has always been [at] the top of our priority. Despite the seemingly vague situation, we are optimistic that with the active support of the community and our people, this case will be resolved,” he said.
Estomo said they have complete confidence in the investigative capability of the NBI under the Department of Justice (DOJ), which filed the criminal complaints for kidnapping against 11 NCRPO personnel and four civilians in connection with the disappearance of the four sabungeros in Cavite in 2021.
“For now, we respect the courses of action being undertaken by NBI on this matter so long as it is within the bounds of existing laws, policies, rules, and regulations. NCRPO is open and willing to cooperate in any investigation pertaining to this matter. Further, NCRPO is now requesting a copy of the case documents from the NBI as the basis for administrative action,” the NCRPO chief said.
“Rest assured that we will cooperate and will not condone any form of lawlessness committed by our men regardless of rank and designation should it be established following a due investigation by competent authorities,” Estomo said.
The NBI filed criminal charges for kidnapping, serious illegal detention, and violation of the Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act against the 11 NCRPO personnel in connection with the disappearance on April 13, 2021 of siblings Gio and Mico Mateo, Garry Matreo Jr., and Ronaldo Añonuevo.
Those charged include former NCRPO Regional Drug Enforcement Unit chief, Colonel Ryan Orapa, who had vowed to answer the raps against them before the proper forum.
The policemen were accused of kidnapping the Mateo siblings and Matreo in Alfonso, Cavite, and Añonuevo in Dasmariñas City in the guise of conducting anti-narcotics operations, the NBI said.
The NBI said the CCTV (closed-circuit television) camera footage they gathered during their investigation showed that the suspects on board three sedans abducted the victims.
