MANILA, Philippines – Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla vowed that no high-ranking official will be spared in the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of cockfighting aficionados or sabungeros.

“No sacred cows. Kahit mayor, kahit governor, kahit senator, basta kasama sila doon sa Alpha group na yan, anyone involved with the Alpha group will be charged kung tama ang case build-up,” Remulla said during his visit to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Command Center at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Remulla said whistleblower Julie “Totoy” Patidongan has already provided a list of names, which is currently undergoing verification.

“Si Totoy ay nagbigay na ng listahan. It’s under verification now. More or less, alam na ng DOJ kung sino yung Alpha group, but sila na tanungin niyo kung sino iyon,” he added.

National Police Commission (Napolcom) Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Rafael Calinisan said they have issued summons to the 12 active police officers named by Patidongan in his complaint-affidavit.

“Our Inspection Monitoring and Investigation Service (IMIS) served the Summons on Tuesday to 12 active police officers implicated by Totoy. They are given five days to submit their counter-affidavits. Failure to do so constitutes a waiver of their rights to submit the same. The complaint will then be evaluated whether or not it would proceed to a formal charge,” Calinisan said.

The 12 officers may face administrative charges for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer. Napolcom is expected to release a decision within 60 days.

The 12 were among 15 police personnel placed under restrictive custody, according to PNP Chief Gen. Nicolas D. Torre III last July 7.

“Yes, 15 are accounted for, all in all. Three were non-active personnel. Fifteen were suspected members of private armed group involved in the disappearance of the sabungeros. The 12 all accounted for and active cops,” Remulla said.

Meanwhile, the PNP-Forensic Group (FG) on Tuesday said that six out of the 91 bones retrieved from Taal Lake may possibly be human remains.

“It brings us closer to the conclusion of the story. Everything that Alias Totoy had said ties up now, if the bones were found,” Remulla said.

“May video tayo ng abduction… Ngayon, kung mahanap yung katawan, then it all ties up that it is a conspiracy, grand conspiracy amongst all of them,” he added.

The search for the missing sabungeros was intensified after Patidongan revealed last June that the victims were killed, tied to sandbags, and dumped into Taal Lake.

Relatives of the victims have since joined Patidongan in filing administrative complaints against the implicated police officers. If proven liable, the officers could face suspension or removal from service depending on Napolcom’s decision.

Patidongan also linked the involved officers to the previous administration’s bloody war on drugs. (PNA)