Brothers in sabungero case reveal hit ordered on them

The brothers of whistle-blower Julie Patidongan, Jose and Elakim, who are believed to be the missing links in the investigation on the kidnapping and disappearance of the sabungeros, were under constant threat as there was already an order to kill them before they were secured by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Cambodia.

- — With Bella Cariaso

In an affidavit filed before the National Police Commission on Friday, Elakim said that on July 16, he and his brother Jose were at their safe house in Cambodia when they received an instruction through a Taiwanese emissary that they would be brought to Myanmar.

He said he and his brother became suspicious after the Taiwanese man refused to give details on their trip to Myanmar, including the specific area where they will stay.

The brothers left their hide-out on July 19 and went to a hotel in Phnom Penh.

It was then they got word there was already an order to kill them, but Elakim said the people did not carry out the hit job.