The senators are also concerned about the disappearance of the sabungeros, which has reached more than 20.
The Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, headed by Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, is likely to conduct an investigation into the matter.
“Given the urgency of the issue while the Senate is on regular adjournment, I am planning to conduct an inquiry as part of my committee’s oversight function over certain government agencies,” Dela Rosa said in a text message to reporters on Thursday.
Dela Rosa made the statement after Senator Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto III commented about separate incidents of people disappearing after going into several cockpits.
At the weekly “Meet the Press” forum, Election 2022 tandem Lacson and Sotto said the Senate could conduct the investigation under the committee’s leadership on public order and dangerous drugs or the committee on games and amusement.
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“Kung ako ang chairman [ng public order], I think, we should call for a Senate inquiry kasi medyo malala na talaga and hindi natin alam kung ano ang puno’t dulo nito,” said Lacson, former Philippine National Police chief.
Sotto said Sen. Lito Lapid heads the committee on games and amusement.
“If necessary, if none of the members of the Senate are…interested, we can always ask the chairman of the committee on games to conduct an investigation or a hearing for that tiyakan imbitahin natin ‘yung may mga reklamo,” said Sotto.
As of January 31, 2022, the PNP announced that 26 people were reported missing after going to the cockpit.
Among those missing were a pregnant woman and her partner living in Laguna. There are also missing in Bulacan, Rizal and Batangas.
On Wednesday, Emil Sumangil’s report on GMA News “24 Oras” found out that a male chicken breeder and “master agent” or handler of online cockfighting was abducted from his house in Laguna by armed men in August 2021 and never seen again.
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