Businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang and his celebrity friend Gretchen Barretto will soon face criminal complaints over the disappearance of around 100 “sabungeros” (cockfight enthusiasts), Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said on Thursday, July 3.
Remulla confirmed that Ang and Barretto are among those under investigation and that formal complaints against them and other suspects will be filed “sooner than later.”
He said the two must be included in the ongoing probe as suspects because they specifically identified by a witness, Remulla said.
One of the suspects, Julie “Dondon “Patidongan, also known as “Totoy,” revealed in a televised interview the alleged involvement of Ang and Barretto in the abduction and deaths of the missing “sabungeros.”
“Actually, there are 20 people in the alpha list. Ang tinatawag na alpha list ‘yung alpha group ng e-sabong,” Patidongan said.
Due to Patidongan’s accusations, Ang filed before the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor’s Office multiple criminal charges against “Totoy” and Alan Bantiles, including attempted robbery with violence and intimidation, grave threat, grave coercion, incrimination against innocent persons, and slander.
P300-M EXTORTION
Ang denied involvement in the disappearance of the missing “sabungeros” and claimed that those he charged demanded P300 million from him so that he will not be implicated in the crime.
But Remulla said that whatever Ang claims “cannot affect us anymore” as the secretary pointed out that “we are working for the truth and not on their claims.”
Thus, he also said, the investigation will proceed and “we will do what we have to do and hindi pwede daanin sa publicity ito,” he said.
He also lamented that several quarters believed that nothing will come out in the investigation because some powerful persons are involved.
But he said the DOJ continues to persevere and does not lose faith that justice will prevail in the case of “missing sabungeros.” (Jeffrey Damicog)
