The management and crew of the concerned cockpit arenas did not show up for a Senate hearing on the disappearance of sabungeros on Thursday.
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, chair of the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, said he would hold another hearing because he is keen to have these individuals as resource persons.
“Alam kong hindi natin matapos ito. Mag-schedule pa tayo ng another hearing dahil yung mga gusto kong resource persons na didikdikin ng tanong ay wala dito. Sana next hearing mag-a-appear sila para lalabas ang katotohanan,” he said.
(I know we cannot finish this. We would have to schedule another hearing because the resource persons I want who will be bombarded with questions are not here. I hope next hearing they will appear so the truth will come out.)
Dela Rosa stated he was referring to the management, workers, and security guards of the participating cockpit venues when Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III questioned who he was referring to.
“Yung mga management ng mga arena na naimbitahan natin, yung mga guwardiya, hindi po dumating (The management of the arenas whom we invited, the guards, they did not come),” Dela Rosa replied.
Senate begins probe on missing sabungeros
Despite the presence of a lawyer to represent them, Dela Rosa stated that he wanted these individuals to attend the court in person.
“Mas gusto ko na humarap dito yung mga nandoon talaga during that time of the incident, noong nangyari yung pagkawala ng mga tao na nagbe-bet, nagsasabong doon sa arena,” he said.
(I prefer them to present themselves here, those who were really there during that time of the incident when these people betting on the arena disappeared.)
Pimentel stated that bringing a motion to compel the possible resource persons to attend the hearing is something he supports.
“I will support any motion in the course of this hearing which will force these people to attend our investigative hearing,” Pimentel said.
As of February 24, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said the number of missing sabungeros is now 31.
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