The Philippine National Police (PNP) has ordered a deeper investigation into an alleged secret meeting that took place at the PNP Custodial Center involving relatives of missing cockfight enthusiasts, locally known as sabungeros, and dismissed police officers implicated in the case.PNP chief Gen.Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.raised concern after reports surfaced that two police officers, former Highway Patrol Group spokesman Lt.Nadame Malang and former Custodial Center chief Maj.Reynaldo Panebe Jr., facilitated the clandestine encounter.

According to the report, the meeting allegedly happened while the implicated former policemen were detained in connection with the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of several sabungeros.

The involvement of police personnel in arranging or allowing such a meeting has prompted serious questions about protocol violations and possible interference in an active case already under judicial consideration.Nartatez stressed that any action by police officers that goes beyond official duties undermines the mandate of the PNP and erodes public trust.

He described the matter as serious, especially if officers are found to have facilitated communications or interactions between detained suspects and the victims’ relatives without proper authorization.

The PNP chief has also called on individuals who may have knowledge of the alleged meeting to come forward and cooperate with the ongoing investigation.

Authorities are also looking into whether other police personnel may have been involved in the incident, indicating the probe could expand further depending on findings.

The case is part of the broader and unresolved investigation into the disappearance of sabungeros, which has drawn national attention due to allegations of police involvement and the scale of the missing persons case.