Atong Ang files counter-affidavit over missing sabungero complaint

Businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang on Friday filed with the Department of Justice his counter-affidavit on the  murder complaint filed against him and others over the missing sabungeros, according to his lawyer.

Lawyer Gabriel Villareal, Ang's legal counsel, said his client asked the case to be returned to the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for “proper case-build up” and a “fair, impartial” investigation

“Kasi po sabi ko, kung madi-dismiss lang basta ‘yung kaso sa kahilingan ni Mr. Ang, masaya siya doon, tama ‘yun sa kanya,” he said in an ambush interview.

(Because I said, if the case would just be dismissed at Mr. Ang’s request, that would make him happy, that would be fine for him.)

“Kaya lang, magkakaroon pa din ng duda at suspetsa sa isip ng tao kung sino ba talaga ang may kagagawan ng missing sabungero at nasaan ba ‘yung missing sabungeros,” he added.

(However, there would still be doubt and suspicion in people’s minds about who is truly responsible for the missing cockfighting enthusiasts and where they truly are.)

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.

Also among the more than 60 respondents is actress Gretchen Barretto and former National Capital Region Police Office chief retired Police General Jonnel Estomo.

Barreto has also filed her counter-affidavit, with her lawyer calling the allegations against her “unsubstantiated.”

Meanwhile, Villareal said that strong evidence against whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan was contained in the USBs previously submitted to the DOJ.

It was Patidongan who linked Ang and Barretto to the missing sabungeros.

“Which shows Dondon, undeniably, although dine-deny niya, bitbit po niya nakaposas ‘yung isang missing sabungero na nakunan ng media. At ‘yun po ay sinubmit sa panel nung huling hearing,” he said.

The next hearing for the preliminary probe was set on November 3.

Ang has slapped Patidongan with a complaint with the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor's Office for conspiracy to commit attempted robbery with violence against or intimidation of persons, grave threats, grave coercion, slander, and incriminating against innocent persons.

He said that Patidongan threatened to link him to the disappearance if he refused to pay P300 million while Barretto said she received a similar threat. —AOL, GMA Integrated News