MANILA – The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has completed drafting its resolution on the administrative case against 12 police officers allegedly involved in the disappearance of several sabungeros (cockfighting enthusiasts) between 2021 and 2022.

Napolcom Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan said Friday that while the draft resolution is ready, the agency will wait for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to finish resolving the criminal aspect of the case before releasing its own decision.

“Tapos na kami. Nasa mesa na namin yung draft (resolution), pero hindi pa namin inuupuan para i-deliberate at ilabas kasi, precisely, inaantay namin yung DOJ resolution… We will wait for the proper time sa paglabas nitong aming mga desisyon sa sabong cases para hindi naman empty yung hustisya ng Pilipinas,” Calinisan told reporters in Quezon City.

Earlier this week, the DOJ announced that it had completed its preliminary investigation into the charges against gaming tycoon Atong Ang and 60 others, submitting the case for resolution.

The case stems from a complaint by whistleblower Julie Patidongan, also known as Dondon or Totoy, who alleged that Ang hired the 12 police officers to kidnap and kill the missing sabungeros for allegedly cheating in cockfights.

Patidongan and the families of the missing individuals filed an administrative complaint before the Napolcom on July 14, which the agency formally lodged on July 29.

In August, Napolcom ordered the 90-day suspension of the 12 police officers facing administrative charges.

Those suspended were:

• Col. Jacinto Malinao Jr.
• Lt. Col. Ryan Jay Orapa
• Maj. Mark Philip Almedilla
• PEMS Aaron Ezrah Cabillan
• PEMS Arturo dela Cruz Jr.
• PSMS Joey Encarnacion
• PSMS Mark Anthony Manrique
• PSMS Anderson Abary
• PMSG Renan Fulgencio
• PSSG Alfredo Andres
• PSSG Edmon Muñoz
• Cpl. Angel Joseph Martin

Malinao, the former director of the Batangas Police, is being investigated for grave misconduct, grave neglect of duty, and conduct unbecoming of a police officer. The 11 others face complaints for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.

Ang, for his part, has denied the allegations, calling them “entirely false and without basis.” He accused Patidongan of attempting to extort ₱300 million from him in exchange for not linking him to the case.