Claudine Barretto on dismissal of missing sabungeros complaint vs. sister Gretchen: 'The truth is out'

Claudine Barretto took to social media to celebrate the dismissal of the complaint filed against her sister Gretchen Barretto and others in connection with the missing sabungeros case.

On Facebook, Claudine reposted news about the resolution, and said, "The truth is out!"

“God is on our side always! your strength amazes me. i will celebrate you from a far while i work and in my prayers. to god to be glory!” 

Claudine also used the hashtags #justicewillprevail and #proudsister.

In July, Gretchen was tagged as a suspect in the case of the missing cockfight enthusiasts after Julie "Dondon" Patidongan, alyas Totoy, linked businessman Atong Ang as the mastermind behind the abductions. Patidongan, who claimed to be a security chief in Ang's farms and cockfight arenas, also linked Gretchen to the disappearances.

Patidongan also alleged that Gretchen agreed during a meeting that the cheating sabungeros must be dealt with. 

The following day after she was linked in the case, Gretchen denied the allegations.

“We deny it. She denies it, categorically…Because the fact of the matter is wala siyang kinalaman doon, wala siyang ginawa, wala siyang sinabi that connects with the disappearance of the sabungeros,” said Atty. Alma Mallonga, Gretchen’s legal counsel, in an exclusive interview with Mariz Umali in “24 Oras.” 

On Wednesday, in a 120-page joint resolution, the panel of prosecutors said that the evidence against the so-called Pitmaster Alpha Group, which Gretchen was alleged to be a part of, is “speculative and uncorroborated.”

“The Patidongan brothers merely alleged that these persons attended meetings where decisions were supposedly made to ‘punish’ cheating sabungeros,” the panel said.

“However, there is no showing that they gave direct orders, participated in logistics, or had knowledge of the specific abductions. Their alleged ‘approval’ during meetings was unsupported by any document, recording, or independent witness,” it added.

The resolution was welcomed by Gretchen’s camp, who previously said that the allegations against her were “unsubstantiated and incredible.”

“As Ms. Gretchen Barretto had steadfastly maintained, there is no truth to the accusations against her. She played no part in the case of the missing sabungeros. Thankfully, the Department of Justice agreed,” Atty. Mallonga said in a statement.

“Ms. Barretto is grateful to all those who expressed their support and who stood by her throughout her ordeal,” she added. —Carby Rose Basina/JCB, GMA Integrated News