Atong Ang, 21 others indicted for kidnapping
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has recommended the filing of 26 counts of kidnapping against businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang and at least 21 others for their alleged involvement in the missing “sabungeros” (cockfight enthusiasts) case.
In a statement on Tuesday, the DOJ said the panel of prosecutors found prima facie evidence with a reasonable certainty of conviction to indict Ang and the other respondents for 10 counts of kidnapping with homicide. On top of this, he and several others were also indicted for 16 counts of kidnapping with serious illegal detention.
“A total of 26 information/s shall be filed with the appropriate courts of law for the conduct of trial,” the DOJ said.
As for the other respondents, including actress Gretchen Barretto, the DOJ said the cases against them were “dismissed without prejudice to the refiling of any complaint” if any future evidence would link them directly to the acts of unlawful detention.
Ang’s coaccused in the kidnapping with homicide case are Police Lt. Col. Ryan Jay Orapa, Rogelio Borican Jr., Rodelio Anig-ig, Jezrel Mahilum, Mark Zabala, Ronquillo Anding, Police Senior Master Sergeant (PSMS) Joey Encarnacion, Police Executive Master Sergeant Aaron Cabillan, Police Master Sergeant (PMSg) Michael Claveria, PSMS Mark Anthony Manrique, PSMS Anderson Abary, Police Staff Sergeant (PSSG) Edmon Munoz, PSSG Alfredo Andres, Police Major Philip Almedilla, Police Lt. Henry Sasaluya, Police Chief Master Sergeant Arturo dela Cruz, PSMS Farvy dela Cruz, Police Corporal Angel Martin, Emman Falle, Julious Gumulon and PMSg Renan Fulgencio.
Indicted, on the other hand, along with Ang for kidnapping with serious illegal detention were Orapa, Borican, Anig-ig, Encarnacion, Cabillan, Claveria, Andres, Almedilla and John Does or the unidentified policemen who were part of Orapa’s group.
Relatives of the missing sabungeros filed the complaints against Ang, the police officers and members of his so-called inner circle called the Pitmaster “Alpha Group” before the DOJ in August.
Whistleblower’s testimony
Central to the case and revival of the government’s investigation into the disappearances that happened as early as 2021 were the revelations of Julie “Dondon” Patidongan, who claimed the sabungeros were abducted, strangled to death, and dumped in Taal Lake by a group of policemen supposedly upon the orders of his former boss, Ang.
His brothers, Ellakim and Jose, corroborated his testimony. Ellakim, who also worked for Ang, said he witnessed some of the killings while Jose, as one of his brother’s security staff, said he saw one of the victims being abducted by the police.
In a 120-page resolution, a copy of which was obtained by the Inquirer, the prosecutors said the sworn confessions of the Patidongan brothers “firmly established” that Ang “exercised command responsibility and active inducement over the abduction operations.”
They noted that records showed that all orders to apprehend “cheating” sabungeros came from Ang.
As for the respondent police officers, the prosecutors, citing the testimonies of the Patidongan brothers, said there was a “consistent pattern” involving policemen in the abductions and disappearances of sabungeros between April 2021 and January 2022.
Prima facie
“Their concerted acts of apprehending, restraining and transferring the victims from various cockfighting arenas to undisclosed locations, as narrated by Julie ‘Dondon’ Patidongan, and even killing these sabungeros in two instances as recounted by Ellakim Patidongan, establish a prima facie showing that these police officers unlawfully deprived the victims of their liberty,” the prosecutors said.
In dismissing the cases against Barretto and members of the so-called Pitmaster Alpha Group, the prosecutors said the evidence against them was “speculative and uncorroborated.”
