Lawyer claims CIDG suppressed affidavits in sabungero case

A lawyer for a police officer accused in the disappearance of "sabungeros" claims the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has suppressed affidavits implicating whistle-blower Julie Patidongan and his brothers.

Lawyer Bernardo Vitriolo stated that these affidavits, allegedly from former employees of Patidongan, could alter the outcome of the investigation into the missing cockfight enthusiasts.

Vitriolo accused the CIDG of excluding these affidavits from the case folder submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to protect Patidongan and his brothers from prosecution.

He specifically asked about these affidavits in a letter to CIDG Director PBGen Christopher Abrahano dated August 3.

Vitriolo urged Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Nicolas Torre III to order the CIDG to submit the missing documents.

The CIDG director previously denied allegations of non-submission, stating the documents were received on July 11 and not gathered by their investigators.