Manila: The Department of Justice (DOJ) has stated that affidavits purportedly signed by former employees of Julie Patidongan, a key whistleblower in the case concerning the disappearance of ‘sabungeros’ (cockfight enthusiasts), hold little evidentiary value. This announcement was made amidst ongoing discussions about the reliability of these documents.

According to Philippines News Agency, DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano communicated to reporters that even if the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) submitted the affidavits, they would not be heavily weighted due to their origin from the defense team. Clavano noted the awkwardness of the situation, particularly for the respondents involved in the case.

The issue arose after Bernardo Vitriolo, defense lawyer for Police Senior Master Sergeant Joey Encarnacion, urged the CIDG to release the sworn statements from a dozen alleged former employees of Patidongan. Vitriolo asserted that these affidavits had not been presented to prosecutors.

In response, the CIDG acknowledged receipt of the affidavits but clarified that these were ‘finished documents’ that arrived at their agency without CIDG investigators personally obtaining the statements from the involved individuals.