Guard submits affidavit linking Ang to ‘sabungeros’ case
Gleer Codilla, a former Manila Arena security guard who was charged in 2022 in a Manila court over the missing “sabungeros” (cockfighting enthusiasts), submitted an affidavit to the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday in support of the police complaint against businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang, and several others.
Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Charlie Guhit said Codilla, who is considered a witness in the DOJ proceedings, filed the affidavit backing the complaint submitted by the Philippine National Police against Ang and company last month to the justice department.
“With respect to the submission of the other affidavits, they are witnesses. Particularly, I remember Gleer Codilla,” Guhit said in an ambush interview after the second preliminary investigation conducted by the DOJ.
The PNP complaint accuses Ang, celebrity Gretchen Barretto, and more than 50 other respondents of multiple counts of murder, kidnapping and serious illegal detention, among other charges.
Separate case
Codilla, along with whistleblower Julie Patidongan, is a respondent in the kidnapping and serious illegal detention case filed with a Manila court in 2022 over the alleged abduction of sabungeros John Claude Inonog, James Baccay, Marlon Baccay, Rondel Cristorum, Mark Joseph Velasco and Rowel Gomez.
One of the witnesses in that case, Denmark Sinfuego, alleged that he saw Codilla with the victims as they were being moved from their designated cock house to the arena’s basement, where they were forced to board a gray van.
Sinfuego further testified that he saw Patindongan, Codilla and fellow Arena guard Mark Zabala with victims Velasco, Gomez and Cristorum. Behind them, other Arena guards identified as Johnry Consolacion, Roberto Matillano and Virgilio Bayog carried the victims’ personal belongings.
According to Guhit, the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group submitted copies of flash drives containing evidence to the panel of prosecutors on Monday, which were viewed by the parties during the hearing.
“I will not anymore disclose what are the contents of the USB because that will be part of the resolution of the case of this preliminary investigation,” Guhit said.
The preliminary investigation will continue on Nov. 3, with prosecutors requiring Ang to personally appear and swear to his counter-affidavit.
