15 cops held over alleged killings of cockfighting fans

Foul play: A file photo of roosters squaring off during a cockfight at the World Slasher Cup 2022 in Manila. The missing cockfighting aficionados and workers were accused of cheating by discreetly weakening one rooster or diminishing its chances of winning, including by slightly injuring it, then betting on the other rooster. — AFP

FIFTEEN police officers have been taken into custody and are being investigated for their alleged role in the abductions and feared killings of at least 34 cockfighting fans.

The missing people were accused of cheating in the hugely popular sport, with their bodies reportedly dumped in a scenic lake with a restive volcano.