Missing sabungeros murder complaint submitted for reso — DOJ

The murder complaint filed against businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang and other individuals over the missing sabungeros has been submitted for resolution, a prosecutor of the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Tuesday.

“The panel declared that the preliminary investigation is already submitted for resolution...  That is after the complainant manifested that they are not filing a reply to the counter-affidavits of the respondents,” Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Charlie Guhit said in an ambush interview.

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.

According to Guhit, a total of 57 respondents filed their counter-affidavits.

This included Ang, actress Gretchen Barretto and former National Capital Region Police Office chief retired Police General Jonnel Estomo.

Following this, the panel of prosecutors will issue a resolution on whether the complaint will be dismissed or filed before a court.

“The panel will try to resolve the case as soon as possible, within the period provided by the rules. Right now, wala pang specific date when are we going to issue the resolution to this case,” he said.

When asked about the camp of Ang seeking to return the complaint back to the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), Guhit said that the panel of prosecutors can only dismiss or file the case.

“If the case is dismissed, they can refile the same with the DOJ by submitting what are the documents lacking or the testimonies of the witnesses that will be submitted in addition to the complaint,” Guhit said.

“It’s up to the complainants whether they will refer again the matter to the PNP or CIDG for the conduct of another investigation,” he added.

He also assured fairness in the conduct of the investigation.

Ang has denied the accusations against him, and his camp has expressed hope that their wish to return the complaint back to the PNP will be granted, saying the evidence submitted “do not have enough credibility.” 

Justice

Whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan, meanwhile, said that he will wait for the resolution and is hopeful that justice will be served.

“Alam naman natin talaga lahat kung sino ang mastermind dito. ‘Yun lang,” Patidongan said in a separate ambush interview.

(We all know who the mastermind is. That’s all.)

He declined to divulge the evidence submitted to the DOJ.

“Mahirap magsalita eh. Doon na siguro sa husgado natin makikita. Alam naman nila na hindi ako basta-basta lulutang ng ganito, within 16 years ako kay Mr. Atong Ang, kung wala akong pinanghahawakan against sa kanya,” he said.

(It’s difficult to talk about it. We will find out in court. They know that I will not simply appear, I worked for Mr. Atong Ang for 16 years, if I didn’t have anything against him.)

He also answered yes when asked if he saw the possibility of being a witness. 

Meanwhile, speaking for the families of the missing sabungeros, Ryan Bautista said they have high hopes that justice is within their reach. 

Bautista is the brother of missing sabungero Michael Bautista, who was identified by his family as the person in a video being handcuffed by two alleged policemen outside a cockfighting arena in Santa Cruz, Laguna.

“Ang laki po ng pag asa namin na makakamit na namin ‘yung hustisya. Pagdating po sa resolusyon, sana po pumabor sa amin, magkaroon na po ng warrant,” he said. 

(We have great hope that we will finally achieve justice. When it comes to the resolution, we hope it will be in our favor, that a warrant will finally be issued.)

He also slammed Ang’s request to return the case to the PNP, calling this their strategy. —VAL, GMA Integrated News