Family of missing sabungeros complains of PNP’s slow action

One of the relatives of the missing cockpit agents was frustrated by the slow response of the police to their call when the armed men took their relative in Laguna.

During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, the brother of the missing Ricardo Lasco Jr. recounted that on the morning of August 30, 2021, armed men entered the brother’s house in Barangay San Lucas, San Pablo City in Laguna.

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According to Lasco Jr.’s live-in partner, the armed men who identified themselves as National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) personnel only said they had a warrant of arrest against him. However, they did not show it and only said he faced large-scale scam charges.

She said they confiscated all their cellphones until her partner was handcuffed and taken out of their house.

According to San Pablo City Chief of Police Lt Col Gary Alegre, when they questioned the NBI, it denied that their personnel had a legitimate operation in the area that day.

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Family of missing sabungeros complains of PNP’s slow action

Lasco’s brother said it was 10:43 a.m. when they called the San Pablo City Police Station, but an hour later, the police responded to them even though the police station was only 3 minutes away from them.

“Six minutes lang ang pulis sa bahay. After 1 hour pa sila dumating . . . Lahat ng drop calls dito recorded. Ang telephone number nito is 09278377454. This is the police station of San Pablo. We called 10:43 outgoing may nakausap 3 minutes and 51 seconds. Sinabi nu’ng secretary ng kapatid ko may reported abduction dito then tumawag ulit kasi walang nagreresponde. Ang lapit lang ng police station dito ha, imagine? One hour pa po bago dumating ang police,” said Lasco’s sibling.

But Alegre explained that their radio operator allegedly received the call at 12:05 p.m.

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Meanwhile, Alegre said, they have identified two suspects in the crime identified as Mark Anthony Gonzales and Alec Decena, who have also been charged with kidnapping.

According to Alegre, Gonzalez was met by one of the victim’s family members, a 7-year-old companion who entered their home and abducted the victim.

But the victim’s live-in partner said they were convinced that the suspects had cleared their names based on their appearance at the hearing.

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