Man who used missing sabungero’s ATM card also a witness, says Patidongan

The man who was caught using the ATM card of one of the missing sabungeros, or cockfight enthusiasts, is also a witness, according to whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan.

According to Emil Sumangil’s exclusive report on “24 Oras,” on Tuesday, Ferdinand Dizon, Manny Magbanwa, Mark Fernandine, and Melbert John Santos went missing on Jan. 14, 2022 after cockfighting in Santa Cruz, Laguna.

The four men were among the 34 missing sabungeros.

More than two hours after they were reported missing, a CCTV from a bank in Lipa City, Batangas caught a man withdrawing money from an ATM.

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), the man used the ATM card of Santos.

Based on the document it acquired from the bank, the PNP said the man withdrew P30,000 in four transactions from Santos’ account.

Then PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Regional - National Capital Region chief Police Colonel Randy Glenn Silvio said once they identify the man, it would shed light on the investigation since he will be the one explaining why Santos' ATM card ended up in his possession.

“Yung nagwi-withdraw na yan, tao ko rin yan. Isang witness ko rin yan. Close-in security ko yan noon. Saka ko na ilabas yan pag kinakailangan,” Patidongan said.

(The man withdrawing is also one of my people. He is another witness. He was one of my close-in security. I will reveal him once the time is right.)

“Malaki maitulong nyan, gawa yung ATM na yan, doon sa isa mga missing sabungero, at ang masama inutusan yan ng isang tao ko rin (para mag withdraw). Siya ang kumuha ng ATM, bago mawala ang missing sabungero,” he added.

(He would be of great help in knowing what happened to one of the missing sabungeros. He was ordered by my staff to withdraw. He took the ATM card before the sabungero disappeared.)

Patidongan urged his men to come forward. This includes the two men who were caught in a video taking Bautista from a cockfight arena in Santa Cruz, Laguna.

“Ang masama lang, nakuhaan sila ng video at todo-tangi at ginamit pa sila ni Mr. Atong Ang na mag-witness against sa akin dahil ako ang tinuturo nilang mastermind,” Patidongan said

(They denied the allegations despite the presence of a video. Businessman Atong Ang is also using them as witnesses against me because they were pointing to me as the mastermind.)

The families of the missing sabungeros, especially Santos' father, regained hope, as they once expected the investigation would become clearer once Santos’ cellphone was recovered.

However, there was no development despite the investigators finding that a police officer gave Santos’ cellphone to a kid.

The National Police Commission is also investigating who among the police officers included in Patidongan’s complaint gave Santos’ phone to the kid.

“Sana lang talagang magtuloy-tuloy at talagang may magiging linaw ito sa mga nangyayari ngayon,” Santos’ father said. (I hope that the investigation progresses and continues to give clarity.) —Mariel Celine Serquiña/LDF, GMA Integrated News