Six people have been charged over the kidnapping of a group of people linked to the world of cockfighting in the Philippines. The group of six is thought to have been abducted on their way to a fight in the capital Manila in January. It’s part of a wave of mysterious disappearances to hit the industry, which is a popular betting sport. Taxes from livestreamed cockfights helped the government replenish its finances after the Covid pandemic. But former President Rodrigo Duterte eventually banned online fights, while allowing traditional cockfighting to resume. The six suspects reportedly deny the allegations. Meanwhile, three former police officers have also been charged with allegedly abducting a cockfighting enthusiast from his house in August 2021, according to the AFP news agency. The victim had been accused of running a fake betting website, AFP reports. The charges come as at least 27 people connected to the lucrative industry remain missing, but hope of finding people alive is fading. “I wouldn’t even want to call them missing cockfighters, but probably dead cockfighters,” Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla said this week.(BBC)…[+]