Lost sabungeros whistleblower details bloody operations on 'Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho'

The mysteries of the missing sabungeros continue to heat up as a whistleblower comes forward and families tell their stories.

On Thursday, authorities began a technical site assessment of Taal Lake, where the sabungeros were allegedly buried.

According to Department of Justice (DOJ) Asec. Mico Clavano, the site inspection has begun.

The inspection so far has revealed sacks of bones around the lake in the town of Laurel, Batangas.

Amid the probe, relatives of the lost sabungero Edgardo Malacca Jr., Ederline and Carmen Malacca were at the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) office in Calamba, Laguna to update their reports.

"Pag nakita 'yung mga bangkay, malaki po ang tulong sa amin dahil mabibigyan na ng katarungan 'yung ginawa ni Atong Ang sa mga pamilya namin," Carmen said.

["If the bodies are found, it would greatly help us because it would finally bring justice for what Atong Ang did to our families."]

They later became emotional as they heard the news of the bones found around Taal Lake.

Conversation with the whistleblower

On Wednesday afternoon, the families of the missing sabungeros were called on by the non-government organization Defend Jobs, as whistleblower Julie Dondon Patidongan wanted to speak to them.

Dondon asked them to pray for his safety.

"Pasensya na kayo na ganito ako magsalita, gawa ng emosyon din. Ramdam ko rin 'yung mga nararamdaman n'yo. Kaya ako, kaya sabi ko, 'di baleng mamatay ako, may maiwan lang akong legacy na matulungan ko itong mga kamag-anak na nawalan, mga mahal sa buhay, 'yung mga missing sabungeros."

["I apologize for how I'm speaking—my emotions are high right now. I feel what all of you are feeling. I said 'I don't mind dying, as long as I leave behind a legacy of helping the families of the missing cockfighters.'"]

Jaja, the partner of missing sabungero John Claude Inonog, was first to ask Dondon.

He told Dondon, "Sir, nandito po kami para ipahatid sa inyo 'yung pasasalamat. Matagal po namin hinintay ito, matagal namin pinagdasal ito na sana magkaroon kami ng sapat na ebidensya para labanan 'yung kalaban namin pero mas malaki pa 'yung ibinigay sa amin ni Lord."

["Sir, we're here to express our gratitude. We've waited and prayed a long time for enough evidence to fight for this case—but the Lord gave us even more than we hoped for."]

Diane Loyola, family of Ferdinand Dizon, likewise expressed her sentiments.

"Ako, kami 'yung taga-Tanay na unang nagpaputok nitong isyu na ito, kasi unang-una, ang goal talaga namin is para matigil 'yung mga nawawala sa sabungan," she said.

["We, the people from Tanay, were the first to bring this issue to light—because above all, our true goal is to put an end to the disappearances tied to cockfighting."]

Dondon assured the family members that there are a lot of intels and that he is here to help them.

"Kasi pag ako namatay, wala na kayong hustisya lahat. Dahil ako ang susi. Ako ang master key," he said.

"If I die, no one will get justice. I am the key—the master key to this case."]

"Hustisya ng mga kamag-anak ninyong namamatay, kamag-anak ninyong nawawala, 'yan ang pinaglaban natin," he added. "Hahamunin kita, Mr. Atong Ang, magpa-lie detector tayo. Kung saan mo gusto, papayag ako. 'Yun lang po."

["Justice for your relatives who died, your loved ones who went missing—that's what we are fighting for. I challenge you, Mr. Atong Ang: let's take a lie detector test. Anywhere you want. I'll agree. That's all."]

Dondon's story

After speaking to the families of the missing sabungeros, Dondon agreed to an interview with Jessica Soho on "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho."

He had earlier pointed to Atong Ang as one of the supposed masterminds in the disappearances of the sabungeros. According to the police, the missing cockfighting enthusiasts were kidnapped allegedly due to match fixing or cheating in the cockfighting games.

Dondon alleged that his older brother was a close-in security member of Ang in 1999. Dondon was then hired to feed Ang's roosters in Antipolo, until he was eventually tasked to also be a close-in bodyguard.

He then said that it was him who told Ang about the cheating incidents, as it was his task to be the "tagasumbong."

Dondon claimed that a wire would be tied around a sabungero's neck to kill him slowly.

He said the cheating only happened with one or two people before, but, "Talagang adik na sila, e. 'Yung parang hindi na talaga sila natatakot na mandaya sila kasi nandu'n ang malaking pera."

["It's like they're truly addicted to cockfighting. They don't even seem afraid to cheat anymore because there's so much money involved."]

There is a P500,000 reward for each dead body, Dondon added.

"'Pag may namamatay na tao, parang nabubuhayan si Mr. Atong Ang, e. Parang lumalakas eh."

["When someone dies, it's as if Mr. Atong Ang becomes even more powerful. It's like he draws strength from it."]

"Ako, bilang empleyado, sinusunod ko lang 'yung mga utos niya, at saka hindi naman puwede akong magrebelde sa kanya, dahil nandu'n ako nakatira sa loob mismo ng farm niya."

["As an employee, I was just following his orders. I couldn't rebel against him—I was living right inside his farm."]

According to Dondon, there are around 108 missing sabungeros but only 34 were reported.

Realizations

One day, Dondon was taking Ang to a party in Batangas when he overheard his employer's conversation.

"Nadulas si Atong Ang na, 'Pare, dito ko pinalubog 'yung katulad kay Dondon.'"

["Atong Ang slipped up and said, 'This is where I buried someone like Dondon.'"]

Dondon pretended he didn't hear anything, and Ang continued his conversation.

"Doon na ako nag-isip," Dondon said. "Mayroon kasi siyang tao na katulad daw sa akin, doon daw niya pinalubog. Kumbaga, 'Katulad kay Dondon,' ang ibig sabihin, na katulad ko, na pinagkatiwalaan din, ganu'n din, 'yun ang ginawa niya."

["That's when I started thinking—if he said he made someone like me disappear there, someone he also trusted, then maybe that's what he plans to do to me too."]

After learning this, Dondon kept all the evidence about missing sabungeros such as John Lasco. 

Lasco was one of the sabungeros who went missing in Laguna, taken from his own home by a supposed National Bureau of Investigation employee, who alleged that he is cloning Ang's e-sabong.

Dondon was tasked to burn the USB but he kept it.

"Kaliwa't kanang kamay. Lahat ng pinagkatiwala niya na sa akin. Pati 'yung sa farm, ako na 'yung nag-improve ng farm niya," Dondon said of Ang.

["I was his left and right hand. He entrusted everything to me—even the farm. I was the one who improved it."]

"'Pag ako namatay, quits na lahat. Wala nang ebidensya. Puwede niya na ituro, 'Si Dondon ang mastermind.' So case solved na," Dondon said.

["If I die, everything's settled. There won't be any evidence left. He could just say, 'Dondon was the mastermind.' And just like that, the case is closed."]

He also revealed a text exchange with Ang.

"Sabi ko, 'Maraming salamat, pinagtiwalaan mo ang ibang tao kesa sa akin, nagmamalasakit sa 'yo simula noon pa. Kaya ipagpalit ko ang buhay ko, huwag ka lang maagrabyado.'"

["I told him, 'Thank you for trusting other people over me—someone who's cared for you from the very beginning. I would have traded my life just so you wouldn't be wronged."]

"Ngayon reply niya sa akin, 'Alam mo mahal ka na sa akin. Huwag ka na maniwala nag-uutos ako na patayin. Ayoko nang ganyan. Sana maayos pa samahan natin.'"

["He replied to me, 'You know I care about you. Don't believe that I'd order anyone to be killed. I don't want that. I hope we can still fix our relationship."]

Ang also said he wanted to end the mess between them.

Dondon said Ang's reaction to him coming out to the media was the text, "Magdasal ka, may panahon pa magbago ang mga tao."

["Pray—there's still time for people to change."]

To this, Dondon replied, "Alam ko one year mo na akong ipapatay, madulas lang ako."

["I know you've been trying to have me killed for a year now—just waiting for me to slip up."]

Ang said, "Sino ba nagsasabi sa 'yo? Ayoko na ng mga kalokohan, hindi na ako payag sa ganyan."

["Who's been feeding you that? I don't want any more of this nonsense, I'm not going along with it anymore."]

Dondon replied, "Sige, Panginoon na lang bahala sa inyo."

["The Lord will be the one to deal with you."]

Dondon said he also has a recorded conversation between Ang and a celebrity who said, "Plano ni Atong patayin 'yan lahat. Buong pamilya niya."

["Atong is planning to have them all killed—even his family."]

Pursuit of justice

Ang denied all the accusations Dondon made against him. However, Dondon stands by his story.

"Hindi ako nagkapera na galing sa bulsa niya, na inutos niya sa akin para pumatay. At para sa kaalaman ng lahat, hindi ako ang pumatay."

["I never received any money from him as payment or an order to kill. And for everyone's information—I was not the one who committed the murder."]

Dondon added that he did not receive any money for the missing sabungeros.

"Hindi ako natatakot. Alam ko iisa lang ang buhay ko. Kung hindi ko ito isiwalat ang lahat, mamamatay na lang ako. 'Yung pamilya ng mga nawalan—hanggang ngayon, hindi ma-solve ang kaso nila."

["I'm not afraid. I know I only have one life.  But if I don't reveal everything, I'll just die without purpose. The families of those who disappeared—until now, they have no closure."]

He also alleged that the Inonog family accepted P50 million in exchange for their silence. Butch Inonog, the father of John Claude Inonog, the missing driver of the sabungeros on the way to the Manila Arena, accepted it.

He added that he is determined to bring this story to the very end.

"Hanggang sa huli. Ang gusto ko, makamit ang hustisya—hindi lang para sa sarili ko, hustisya ng mga kamag-anak na nawalang sabungero."

["Until the very end, what I want is justice—not just for myself, but for the families of the missing cockfight enthusiasts."]

KMJS sought Atong Ang's comment on Dondon Patidongan's remarks through his lawyer, Atty. Lorna Kapunan, but they declined to provide a statement.

The program also tried to get a comment from Butch Inonog but he did not respond to the messages.

As of writing, a total of five sacks—believed to contain human bones or other suspicious objects—have been recovered from Taal Lake. These were turned over to Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) and other forensic experts for examination.

DNA samples were taken from the suspicious objects for possible matching, should any human remains be confirmed. —GMA Integrated News