DOJ urged to review dismissal of complaints vs. Barretto, Estomo in missing sabungeros case

Families of missing sabungeros on Monday asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to reconsider the dismissal of the complaint filed against actress Gretchen Barretto, retired National Capital Region Police chief Jonnel Estomo, and others.

In a partial motion for reconsideration, they asked the department to indict Barretto, Estomo, and Ang’s children and relatives for the crime of kidnapping with homicide, as well as kidnapping and serious illegal detention.

“Naniniwala po kami na conspiracy ito, eh. Magkakasabwat sila dito, so kailangan lahat managot,” said Jaja Pilarta, one of the complainants and the partner of missing sabungero John Claude Inonog.

(We believe that this is a conspiracy. They are in collusion here, so everyone must be held accountable.)

“Hindi lang isang tao. Hindi lang ‘yung mga pulis, hindi lang ‘yung mastermind. Dapat ‘yung lahat ng mga taong involved dito mapanagot po namin,” she added.

(It’s not just one person. Not just the police, not just the mastermind. All the people involved here should be held accountable.)

In December, the panel of prosecutors found prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction to charge businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang and 21 others with kidnapping with homicide and/or kidnapping with serious illegal detention.

However, in the same resolution, they found that the evidence against the so-called Pitmaster Alpha Group, of which Barretto was alleged to be a part, was “speculative and uncorroborated.

They also said that allegations against Ang’s children and relatives were uniform and generalized.

Aside from this, the panel noted that the statements against Estomo and others were based on personal assumptions or second-hand information.

Pilarta, however, argued that they should also be charged as they are allegedly part of a single “business.”

“So alam nila ‘yung nangyayari sa bawat nawawala. Alam nila kung anong ginagawa doon sa mga tao. Alam nila siguro din kung saan dinala ‘yung mga kaanak po namin,” she said.

(So they know what is happening to each person who goes missing. They know what is being done to the people there. They probably also know where our relatives were taken.)

Other families of the missing sabungeros expressed their concerns as an arrest warrant has yet to be issued against Ang and others. 

“Sabi po ninyo, bago mag Pasko, lalabas na ang warrant, umasa kami po kami talaga. Sobrang saya ko,” said Carmen Malaca, kin of a missing sabungero, in Emil Sumangil’s exclusive report in “24 Oras” on Monday. 

(You said the warrant would be released before Christmas. We really pinned our hopes on that. I was so happy then.)

“Naiinip na nga ako, eh bago mag-Pasko, sabi nila. Dumating 'yung Pasko, wala rin.Tapos na ang Bagong Taon, wala pa rin. Kaya sobra akong stressed,” she added. 

(I am getting impatient. They said [it would be out] before Christmas. Christmas came, and nothing has happened. New Year is over, and still nothing. That’s why I’m so stressed.) 

The families also wonder why other personalities, who they believe have direct involvement in the case of the missing sabungeros, were removed from the list of those to be charged. 

“Hindi lang naman si Atong Ang ang may gawa sa nangyari sa aming pamilya eh. Lahat po dapat ng may gawa, sila po dapat ang talagang makasuhan, talagang makulong silang lahat,” said Ryan Bautista. 

(It wasn’t just Atong Ang who was responsible for what happened to our families. Everyone involved should be the ones charged; they should all truly be jailed.) 

“Alam natin na conspiracy ito eh. Bakit hindi napasama yung iba?” said Charlene Lasco. 

(We know this is a conspiracy. Why were the others not included?) 

“Sana ma-rebisa yung mga natanggal na nai-file namin na hindi naisama sa kakasuhan. Kasi po sama-sama sila, ayun po yung mga kasama ni Atong Ang,” said Marlyn Germar. 

(I hope they revise the list to include those we filed against who were excluded from the charges. Because they were all together—those were the companions of Atong Ang.) 

They also question why Barretto, Estomo, and relatives of Ang are not included in the list of those to be charged. 

“Kung si Atong Ang lang ang makukulong, hindi po, mahirap po. Kailangan lahat sila…Lahat sila may papel sa pagpatay sa mga missing sabungero,” said Malaca. 

(If it’s only Atong Ang who goes to jail, no, that’s difficult. It needs to be all of them… They all had a role in the killing of the missing cockfighting enthusiasts.) 

“Hindi naman magagawa talaga ni Atong Ang lang nang mag-isa ‘yun tapos sila pa yung hindi naisama,” said Eloisa Bohol, mother of missing Khiel Bohol. 

(Atong Ang couldn't have really done that all by himself, yet they were the ones left out [of the charges].) 

The families of the missing sabungeros, together with whistleblower Dondon Patidongan and other lawyers, met in an undisclosed location to sign an appeal before the DOJ Panel of Prosecutors to reconsider including those who were left out in the list of those to be charged.

“Kaya kami magfa-file ng MR kasi mayroon kaming testigo na magpapatunay na kasama po sila,” said Bautista. 

(The reason we are filing an MR [Motion for Reconsideration] is because we have a witness who can prove that they were involved.)

“Huwag niyo po kaming bibitawan, kasi nasa inyo ang aming pag-asa,” said Malaca. 

(Please do not let go of us [don't abandon us], because our hope lies with you.) 

The relatives of the missing sabungeros also confirmed that there are individuals lurking near them and offering money in exchange for withdrawing the case. But they refuse to disclose who was making the offers and how much was being offered for their safety. 

“May mga feelers…sa amin, hanggang kami ay solid, hindi po mangyayari ‘yun. Ang gusto namin justice po,” said Lasco. 

(There are feelers... as for us, as long as we remain solid, that [withdrawing the case] won’t happen. What we want is justice.) 

GMA News Online has asked the respondents for comment and will publish their response once available.

The DOJ has filed the charges against Ang before several regional trial courts. Ang’s camp has asked the DOJ to reconsider its earlier resolution. –NB/RF, GMA Integrated News