‘Sabungeros’ kin file slay raps vs Atong, pals, cops
Relatives of the missing “sabungeros” (cockfighting enthusiasts) on Friday filed a complaint for multiple murder and serious illegal detention against businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang, several policemen and members of Ang’s so-called inner circle, the “Alpha Group,” hoping their quest for justice will finally bear fruit after a four-year wait.
“We are happy. We have been waiting for this chance for a long time, four years,” Ryan Bautista, brother of Michael Bautista, one of the missing sabungeros, said in Filipino after the filing at the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Another relative, Charlene Lasco, sister of Ricardo Lasco, said: “We are asking the DOJ to carefully study and investigate the case to establish probable cause so an arrest warrant can be issued, as soon as possible, against those implicated in the case.”
At the core of the complaint filed by the sabungeros’ relatives is the affidavit filed by whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan, alias “Totoy.”
Ang had denied any role in the disappearance of the sabungeros. The businessman, in turn, sued Patidongan and Alan Bantiles, his former employees, for grave threats, grave coercion, slander, conspiracy to commit attempted robbery, and incriminating innocent persons.
Fill in the blanks
Patidongan earlier alleged that a group of policemen—supposedly acting on Ang’s orders—abducted and strangled the sabungeros before dumping their bodies in Taal Lake, Batangas.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Friday said the DOJ investigation would continue despite the filing of the complaint.
“There are still John and Jane Does in the complaint. It is for us to fill in the blanks and ascertain the extent of their participation,” Remulla told reporters, referring to the still-unidentified suspects.
He said the complaint filed on Friday was part of the ongoing investigation, including the operation conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard in Taal to recover the victims’ remains.
“This is part of it because our other efforts are ongoing,” Remulla said.
The justice secretary also acknowledged that the process would be lengthy.
“It is just right that the DOJ probably starts sifting through the statements made by the witnesses and the complainants to know what really happened. This will be a long process. We need to be patient,” he said.
‘Highly placed witness’
Remulla said Patidongan had already provided a lot of information on the disappearances—how, when and where they happened—and identified the key individuals involved.
“It is rare to have a highly placed witness embedded in a criminal organization. I believe this is the first time in Philippine history that we have a whistleblower for the actions of a criminal organization,” the DOJ secretary said, describing Patidongan’s testimony as “highly reliable.”
Another witness, Remulla said, is Elakim Patidongan, the person who withdrew money from the bank account of another missing sabungero, Melbert Santos. Elakim is Patidongan’s brother who is now under the government’s custody.
“He reportedly witnessed the killing of 10 people. His statement is included in the complaint,” he said, describing Elakim’s testimony as “foolproof.”
Remulla said a panel of prosecutors would handle the complaint against Ang and the other named respondents,
“It is really up to the prosecution panel to determine what to do on the complaint filed today (Friday),” Remulla said.
On July 29, Remulla revealed that the government had a new witness who could significantly strengthen the testimony of Patidongan.
According to the DOJ secretary, the civilian witness, whose identity has been withheld, not only has direct knowledge of the disappearances but also has “hard evidence” that supports the testimonial accounts.
The development was revealed on the same day that 12 active police officers were charged with administrative offenses in the National Police Commission (Napolcom) in connection with the abduction of the 34 sabungeros.
The Napolcom Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service (Imis) found probable cause to formally charge the police officers in the agency’s Legal Affairs Service.
The complainants—Patidongan and 18 family members of the missing sabungeros—are being represented by Napolcom-Imis.
Due process
Remulla assured those who have a stake in the case that the DOJ “will be fair.”
“We won’t condemn anyone without a proper hearing. Due process is essential—no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law,” he said.
The filing of the complaint came just as a leaked list, supposedly based on Patidongan’s affidavit, began circulating on social media.
The document identified the alleged members of the Alpha Group which include a police official, lawmakers and local officials.
Remulla said there may be “three or four” from the Alpha Group involved in plans to kill the sabungeros.
“Sinusuri pa natin ’yan ng husto (We are thoroughly studying that information),” Remulla said.
Meanwhile, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) would submit additional evidence to the DOJ in the case of the abducted sabungeros.
“We expect that the new set of evidence that we will submit will meet the requirement of reasonable certainty of conviction,” she said in an interview on dzMM on Friday.
According to Fajardo, among the documents and pieces of evidence that the CIDG is expected to submit is the “affidavit… or at least [the] extrajudicial confession [of] Julie Patidongan naming other personalities.”
2 brothers
On Thursday, the PNP announced it had taken custody two of Patidongan’s brothers whom investigators believe to be the “missing link” to solve the case.
“Once we file these documents, we expect the DOJ to issue a resolution to file the information against the suspects who earlier identified. This will be supported by other pieces of evidence,” Fajardo said.
In March 2022, the Senate launched an inquiry into the spike in abductions believed linked to e-sabong operations. Though the incidents occurred at different times, they shared disturbing patterns—many victims were last seen under the custody of cockpit arena security personnel and allegedly questioned over suspected involvement in “paninyope,” a local term for game-fixing. —WITH REPORTS FROM JASON SIGALES AND INQUIRER RESEARCH
