Businessman Atong Ang and actress Gretchen Barreto are now considered suspects in the case of the missing sabungeros – cockfight enthusiasts who disappeared from 2021 to 2022 – after one of the accused linked them to the abductions, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said.

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This developed after Julie “Dondon” Patidongan, alyas Totoy, tagged Ang as the mastermind behind the abductions. Patidongan, who claimed to be a security chief in Ang’s farms and cockfight arenas, also linked Barretto to the disappearances.

“Mapapasama sila kasi nga pinangalanan sila, then we will have to include them as suspects,” Remulla said in an ambush interview.

(They will be among the suspects because they were named, so we will have to include them as suspects.)

He issued the statement when asked if Ang and Barretto will be included in the investigation of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

When asked about the timeline for the filing of cases against the two, Remulla said this may happen “sooner than later.”

“I-evaluate ‘yan ng ating group of fiscals who will be assigned to evaluate all the evidence so that we will know what cases to file properly,” he said.

(That will be evaluated by our group of fiscals who will be assigned to assess all the evidence so that we can determine the proper cases to file.)

Earlier, Ang maintained his innocence as he filed a complaint against Patidongan on Thursday morning, accusing the latter of trying to extort P300 million from him.

He said Patidongan and another former employee threatened to implicate him in the missing sabungeros case if he refused to give them P300 million.

Ang’s camp also appealed to the government to look at other leads instead of one lead that is “false and misleading.” His camp asked the government to not believe in a whistleblower who allegedly distorts information.

Nothing personal

Remulla, however, declined to comment on the statement from Ang’s camp.

“We are here investigating criminal behavior and criminal offenses so that we can solve this problem of the country. Problema ito ng bansa eh. Hindi naman ito problemang personal,” Remulla said.

(We are here investigating criminal behavior and criminal offenses so that we can solve this problem of the country. This is a national problem, not a personal one.)

“We will do what we have to do. And hindi puwedeng daanin sa publicity ito. That’s why I do not speak at every turn when it comes to this,” he added.

(We will do what we have to do. And this cannot be handled through publicity. That’s why I do not speak at every turn when it comes to this.)

As soon as ready

Sought for comment on the allegations against her, Barretto told GMA Integrated News that she would call as soon as her team was ready.

Ang’s legal counsel Atty. Lorna Patajo-Kapunan stressed Ang’s innocence in the disappearances.

“He will cooperate fully and voluntarily in any investigation of the case so that the real culprits will come out and the families of the victims get their closure,” she said.

Meanwhile, Remulla said Patidongan may become a state witness.

“It’s always possible. ‘Yung mga ganyang testimony na kailangang-kailangan, usually ‘yan ‘ang dini-discharge as state witnesses,” he said.

(It’s always possible. Testimonies like those that are extremely necessary are usually the ones discharged as state witnesses.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News