Atong Ang, Gretchen Barretto linked to missing sabungero abductions

Julie "Dondon" Patidongan, one of the accused in the case of missing sabungeros, has identified businessman Charlie "Atong" Ang as the mastermind behind the abductions.

In Emil Sumangil's exclusive interview on "24 Oras," Patidongan also linked actress Gretchen Barretto to the disappearances.

Patidongan has earlier said that the missing cockfight watchers have all been killed.

He was a former chief of security in Ang’s farms and cockfight arenas.

“Mr. Charlie Atong Ang and then Eric Dela Rosa, Engineer Celso Salazar, sila ang mastermind sa mga nawawalang sabungero," Patidongan said.

(Mr. Charlie “Atong” Ang, Eric Dela Rosa, Engineer Celso Salazar are the masterminds in the abduction of the sabungeros.) 

Patidongan said Dela Rosa monitored the cockfights for cheating and reported those caught to Ang. He said these will be discussed with Salazar.

"Then itawag sa akin na i-hold yung mga taong nagti-tiyope,” Patidongan said. 

(They will call me to put on hold those who were cheating.) 

“Si Mr. Atong Ang…siya ang pinaka-mastermind at siya naguutos na talagang iligpit ng mga ‘yan,” he added. 

(Mr. Atong Ang is the main mastermind and the one who orders to punish those sabungeros.) 

Patidongan reiterated that policemen were allegedly ordered to deal with the cockfighters who are said to be cheating. 

Patidongan said that Barretto is completely aware of what was happening then. 

“100% na may kinalaman siya gawa na lagi silang magkasama ni Mr. Atong Ang. Ang panawagan ko lang, makipagtulungan na lang siya sa akin,” Patidongan said. 

(I’m 100% sure that she’s aware of the matter because she’s always with Mr. Atong Ang. I’m asking her to cooperate with me.) 

Patidongan is one of the six accused in the abduction of the cockfight enthusiasts who were reported missing from 2021 to 2022. 

When asked why it took several years for him to speak up on the matter, Patidongan said he believes that Ang cannot bribe Philippine National Police chief General Nicolas Torre III. 

“Lumutang ako dahil alam ko ang pinagkatiwalaan kong tao, na ang ating PNP chief na si General Torre, alam kong hindi niya kayang bayaran ng pera ‘yan,” he said. 

(I came into the light now because I believe that he cannot bribe the PNP chief with any amount of money.) 

Further, he affirmed that he has nothing to do with the abductions: “Sa totoo lang, wala akong kinalaman diyan. Isa lang akong utusan niya na bilang farm manager.” 

(I don’t have anything to do with that. I’m just following orders as a farm manager.) 

In a separate report, Ang’s camp advised that they will file a complaint affidavit against Patidongan on Thursday before the Office of the Prosecutor in Mandaluyong. 

However, Patidongan said he is not worried about it. He also denied receiving any money from the businessman in exchange for recantation of his statements. 

“Parang kinasuhan niya na rin yung sarili niya….Siya naman nag-uutos ng lahat,” he said. “Katulad ng sinabi niya na nag-extortion daw ako ng P300 million. Para alam ng lahat, hindi ko kayang tanggapin ang pera niya.” 

(It’s like also filing charges against himself…He’s the one making those orders in the first place. He claimed that I asked for P300 million, but I just want to clarify that I cannot accept such an amount of money.) 

“Tsaka Mr. Atong Ang, sabi na nga matatanda, wag ka na magtago sa palda ng nanay mo. Binigyan mo ako ng papel para pirmahan ko, yung recantation ba ‘yun, ibinigay mo sa akin kapalit ng pera. Sabi ko, hindi ko kayang tanggapin ‘yan dahil buhay ko at buhay ng pamilya ang nakataya dito,” Patidongan added. 

(As the old saying goes, Mr. Atong Ang, please don't hide under your mother’s skirt. You gave me a paper to sign in exchange for money, I think it has something to do with recantation. But I told you that I cannot accept the money because my life and my family are at stake.) 

Further, Patidongan asked President Ferdinand Marcos to order authorities to resolve the matter for the sake of the victims’ family. 

GMA Integrated News has reached out to Ang and Barreto for comments. – GMA Integrated News