The Philippine National Police (PNP) arrested two people considered as the missing links in the missing sabungeros case in separate Southeast Asian country.

PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said two suspects were identified as siblings of whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan were deported back to the country last July 22.

Fajardo said one of the arrested persons was allegedly caught in a CCTV footage withdrawing money using the ATM card of one of the missing sabungeros.
The other one was also caught escorting another victim during an alleged abduction.

One of them was arrested due to an arrest warrant for robbery, while the other one for using a different name on his passport.

The PNP said the arrests were legitimate as they coordinated the operation with the Bureau of Immigration.

34 cockfighting enthusiasts have been reported missing from 2021 to 2022. According to the police, the missing personalities were kidnapped allegedly due to match fixing or cheating in the cockfighting games.

Patidongan claimed that the victims were already buried in Taal Lake.

Patidongan pointed to businessman Atong Ang as a mastermind in the case and also linked actress Gretchen Barretto to the disappearances. Both have denied the allegations.