Gretchen Barretto appears at DOJ; lawyer calls murder allegations 'unsubstantiated'

Actress Gretchen Barretto on Thursday filed her counter-affidavit on the murder complaint filed against her and businessman Atong Ang in connection with the missing sabungeros case.

Barretto personally attended the preliminary probe at the Department of Justice.

Her lawyer called the allegations “unsubstantiated.”

“The reason we’re filing a counter-affidavit right now… based on what we have been saying from the very beginning that we feel that the accusations against her are unsubstantiated, incredible, and there’s every basis for the complaint to be dismissed,” Atty. Alma Mallonga, Barretto’s counsel, said in an interview.

When asked if she believes the investigation will be fair, Barretto answered, “I trust.”

The complaint is for kidnapping with serious illegal detention and multiple murder, among others, over the disappearance of 34 sabungeros in seven separate incidents from 2021 to 2022.

The complaint is for serious illegal detention and multiple murder, among others.

Also among the more than 60 respondents is former National Capital Region Police Office chief retired Police General Jonnel Estomo, who also personally attended the hearing.

Also present were whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan and his brother, Elakim.

Meanwhile, Ang was represented by his lawyer, Atty. Gabriel Villareal. 

Villareal said Ang was not present as his counter-affidavit was not yet prepared as the documents given to them were lacking and due to the large number of documents.

“Marami sa mga respondent, kasama na kami, ay nagrereklamo na ‘yung mga pinadala sa aming papeles ay kulang-kulang,” he said.

(Many of the respondents, including us, are complaining that the documents sent to us are incomplete.)

“’Yung pinadala sa aming pitong folder, dapat may kasama na pitong USB. Pitong USB na may lamang data na may relevance sa inaakusa sa mga respondent. Lumalabas kanina na hindi naisama ‘yung pitong USB na ‘yun,” he added.

(The seven folders sent to us should have included seven USBs. Seven USBs containing data relevant to the accusations against the respondents. It turns out earlier that those seven USBs were not included.)

He said that the documents only contained pictures of the USB.

Asked if Ang is expected to file his counter-affidavit at the DOJ, Villareal said his presence can be expected.

“We will expect his presence at the time that his counter-affidavit is due and ready,” he said.

Submit USBs

Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Charlie Guhit said the panel of prosecutors has directed the Philippine National Police to submit the USBs.

He also said that the complainants subscribed their affidavits, adding that this is part of the process.

“Pag dating ng PI, hindi ipinagbabawal ng rules na panumpaan ulit ng mga  complainant ang kanilang sinumpaang salaysay. And in fact, laging ginagawa ‘yan ng mga handling prosecutor para masigurado kung sila ba talaga ‘yung nanunumpa,” he said.

(During the PI, the rules do not prohibit the complainants from swearing again to their sworn statements. And in fact, that is always done by the handling prosecutor to make sure if they are indeed the ones making the oath.)

The next preliminary probe is on September 29 and October 13.

Bribery attempt

Meanwhile, Villareal said their camp had no hand in the attempt to bribe one Jaja Pilarta, one of the complainants and the partner of missing sabungero John Claude Inonog. 

Pilarta said she was asked to keep quiet, cease from participating in any court hearings related to the missing sabungeros, and retract the complaint she filed against Ang and others.

For Villareal, the one behind the bribe attempt is Patidongan.

“Alam mo kung ako ang gagawa ng ganong operation, palalabasin ko na ang mag be-benepisyo ibang tao… Pagka ayun, natuloy ang aregluhan na ‘yun, ang magbebenepisyo ‘yung mismong akusado,” he said.

(You know, if I were to carry out that kind of operation, I would make it appear that other people would benefit. So that once that settlement goes through, the one who would benefit would be the accused himself.)

“Pwede ko, kumbaga, i-camouflage ‘yun, ‘yung motibo ko, para ilalagay ko ‘yung mga pangalan ng ibang tao,” he added.

(I can, so to speak, camouflage that, my motive, to put the names of other people.)

When sought for comment, Atty. Manuel Ventura, Patidongan's legal counsel, said that his client bribing Pilarta is “impossible” as he is not the mastermind.

“That’s very impossible [na] ‘yung kliyente ko ‘yung mag bribe nung kaso na ‘yun. Dahil alam naman natin na hindi talaga siya ‘yung mastermind doon. In fact, inabugaduhan siya sa kasong ‘yun ng lawyers coming from Mr. Charlie ‘Atong’ Ang,” he said.

(That’s very impossible that my client was the one who bribed in that case. Because we all know that he was not really the mastermind there. In fact, he was provided lawyers in that case by Mr. Charlie ‘Atong’ Ang.)

Barretto’s camp also denied knowledge about the bribery attempt

For her part, Pilarta said the attempt to bribe her showed the alleged guilt of the respondents.

“Pinapatunayan lang po noon na meron talagang ano— meron talagang kasalanan ‘yung mga taong mga kinasuhan namin kasi bakit sila mag aareglo ng ganun kung inosente talaga sila,” she said.

(That just proves that there really is— those we filed charges against really committed a crime, because why would they make such an arrangement if they were truly innocent?)

When asked about the denial of Ang’s camp, she stressed that the recantation paper shown to her included the respondents in the complaint.

“Pinatutunayan lang po talaga na merong nangyayaring areglo sa mga ganyang kaso-kaso. Talagang pera po ang pinaplakad nila para maabswelto ang mga nagawa nilang krimen,” she said. 

(It just really proves that such arrangements are happening in these cases. They are literally moving money to absolve themselves of the crimes they committed.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News