Manila Representative Bienvenido Abante confirmed that the House Quad Committee (QuadComm) will be reconstituted in the upcoming 20th Congress, with the case of the missing sabungeros among its top priorities.
Abante, who co-chaired the QuadComm and led the House Committee on Human Rights in the 19th Congress, believes the unresolved disappearances should be addressed under the scope of extrajudicial killings.
“That will be covered,” Abante told GMA Integrated News. “I’ve already talked with some of the would-be members of the QuadComm. This is another issue as far as extrajudicial killing is concerned.”
He emphasized the gravity of the case, noting that over a hundred cockfighting enthusiasts vanished without due process. “Whether they cheated or not, they were not given due process. Bigla na lang pinatay at nawala. Congress has to tackle that also,” he said.
Abante recounted that he was among the first to speak out when the disappearances began, as several of the victims were from his own district. “Noong unang-unang mga napatay na mga nawala na mga sabongero, ‘yun ay nangyari sa aking distrito. Eight of them, actually, were missing. I already exposed that in my privilege speech,” he said. “I’m so glad na ngayon, na-expose uli ‘yan… this time, hindi lang eight or 34, but more than 100.”
The lawmaker added that whistleblower Dondon Patidongan, also known as “Totoy,” will be among those invited to testify once the QuadComm resumes its work. He also floated the names of other potential resource persons, including businessman Atong Ang and representatives from the Philippine National Police.
The 20th Congress is set to convene its first session on July 28, 2025. Committee assignments and formal hearings are expected to follow shortly after.
