Fifteen Philippine Police Officers Detained Over Alleged Abductions and Killings of 34 Cockfighters

Police Brigadier General Nicolas Torre speaks during a hearing on the arrest of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Manila, Philippines, March 20, 2025

Fifteen police officers in the Philippines have been arrested and are under investigation for their suspected involvement in the abductions and likely killings of at least 34 cockfighting enthusiasts and workers, authorities announced Monday.

According to national police chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III, the victims disappeared between 2021 and 2022 while traveling to or from cockfighting arenas across Luzon, including areas in Metro Manila. The sport, locally known as sabong, is a deeply rooted cultural and gambling tradition in the country.

A major breakthrough came when a key witness, using the alias “Totoy,” surfaced and accused a prominent gambling tycoon of orchestrating the killings. According to the witness, victims were strangled, mutilated, and their bodies were dumped into Taal Lake—a popular scenic destination south of Manila known for its volcano—or in some cases burned elsewhere.

Police say the witness’s testimony has been corroborated with physical evidence, forming the basis of criminal complaints to be filed by the Department of Justice. The witness, now under police protection, stated he came forward after receiving threats from his former employer. He expressed a desire to bring justice to the grieving families of the victims.

“I was very shocked,” Gen. Torre said during a press briefing. “It firmed up our resolve to really solve this because what happened was savage and not acceptable by any standard.”

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed that criminal complaints will be filed not only against the arrested officers but also against the influential businessman who owns several cockfighting arenas and gambling establishments. The businessman has denied any involvement.

Remulla also stated he will request assistance from Japan in deploying advanced technology to search for human remains believed to still be at the bottom of Taal Lake, nearly four years after the reported killings.

Cockfighting, though banned in the United States and many Western countries due to animal cruelty concerns, remains legal and culturally significant in parts of Southeast Asia, Latin America, and some regions of Europe. In the Philippines, it is a regulated industry that generates government revenue and provides employment for thousands. The sport involves two roosters, often fitted with razor-sharp gaffs or steel blades, fighting to the death amid loud spectators and high-stakes betting.

The missing individuals were allegedly accused of cheating by sabotaging roosters—inflicting slight injuries or manipulating outcomes—then wagering against the compromised birds to guarantee profit.

The case has reignited national outrage and drawn attention to longstanding concerns about corruption, violence, and impunity in the lucrative cockfighting and gambling sectors.