MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) said the supposed sworn statements of former employees of whistleblower Julie Patidongan in the missing “sabungeros” case would carry little evidentiary weight.

“Even if the CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) did submit the affidavits to this department, it would not be given a lot of weight, especially because it is being offered by no less than the defense team,” DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano told reporters. “The situation is quite awkward, even for the respondents.”

The remark came after defense lawyer Bernardo Vitriolo, counsel for Police Senior Master Sergeant Joey Encarnacion, urged the CIDG to release the statements from around a dozen alleged former employees of Patidongan. Vitriolo claimed the affidavits were not submitted to prosecutors.

The CIDG confirmed receiving the documents but said they were “finished” when they reached the agency, with investigators not personally taking the statements from the affiants.