Lawyer appeals to DOJ to exclude Atong Ang from Manila case on missing sabungeros

The camp of businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang appealed Monday to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to not include him as a respondent in an ongoing Manila court case on the missing sabungeros, his lawyer said.

Atty. Gabriel Villareal represented Ang, who is facing arrest warrants issued by three courts, before the preliminary investigation at the Justice Department.

“Ang prayer po namin is that wala ho kinalaman si Mr. Ang dito sa Manila incident. At bakit ngayon biglang parang nagpalit ang isip ng DOJ na sila ang nag pro-prosecute kay Julie Patidongan, ngayon parang ginagawa nilang alaga si Julie Patidongan para lang maisangkot si Mr. Ang,” he told the media.

(Our prayer is that Mr. Ang has nothing to do with the Manila incident. And why now does it seem like the DOJ suddenly changed its mind when they were the ones prosecuting Julie Patidongan, now it seems like they are treating Julie Patidongan as someone they are protecting just to implicate Mr. Ang.)

Villareal is referring to the kidnapping and serious illegal detention case for the disappearance of sabungeros John Claude Inonog, James Baccay, Marlon Baccay, Rondel Cristorum, Mark Joseph Velasco, and Rowel Gomez.

Whistleblower Julie Patidongan, who linked Ang and other individuals to the sabungeros' disappearances, is among the respondents in the Manila case, along with five others. 

“The accusation against Mr. Ang is anchored on a recantation affidavit of Julie Patidongan… he came in and filed an affidavit recanting his earlier affidavit… denying any involvement in the Manila case,” he said.

“He recanted that in an affidavit today, saying that the so-called mastermind in the Manila abductions is Mr. Ang,” he added.

Villareal said he believes that this is part of Patidongan’s commitment in order for him to be discharged as a state witness in the Manila case.

“Para maalis siya doon sa Manila case, part of his commitment under the Witness Protection Agreement was to implicate Mr. Ang,” he said.

(So that he will be discharged from the Manila case, part of his commitment under the Witness Protection Agreement was to implicate Mr. Ang.)

Justice spokesperson Polo Martinez said the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) initiated the re-opening on the basis of Patidongan’s affidavit. 

Patidongan identified John Does who were previously unknown, according to Martinez.

“The purpose of the re-opening is to identify the initially unknown John Does. If and when so determined, said John Does will be subsequently charged in the ongoing trial,” he said.

Martinez also said that the preliminary investigation may be re-opened as it will not affect the presentation of evidence in the ongoing trial.

Location

Meanwhile, Villareal said he has no information regarding Ang’s current whereabouts but believes his client is still in the country.

“I personally don’t have information but I noted from the latest statement from Secretary Jonvic Remulla, he is believed to be still within the country, and I think so too,” he said.

He also affirmed that Ang may face the charges against him “at the proper time.”

“I think at the proper time. When we shall have exhausted all his legal remedies, he will face up to whatever is being brought up,” he said. 

According to Villareal, he no longer has contact with Ang. He said their last conversation took place when arrest warrants were issued against him.

“Wala po ako contact since (I don't have any contact since). I have not been able to speak with him since,” he said.

He said Ang is only receiving updates through media reports.

Other cases

Meanwhile, Villareal said they have pending cases in other regional trial courts (RTC) over the disappearance of the sabungeros.

Before the Sta. Cruz, Laguna RTC, they have a pending motion for reconsideration on the court’s denial of their motion to quash the information.

“We filed a motion to reconsider the order of denial which is still pending,” he said.

“There are ongoing hearings in the Sta. Cruz court concerning the bail application of the other defendants. Those other hearings are ongoing,”  

Villareal said they also have a pending motion for reconsideration before the Lipa, Batangas RTC. They appealed the denial of a motion to quash the information. 

“There are also ongoing hearings for the application of bail of the other accused,” the lawyer said.

Aside from this, he said Ang also has a pending motion for reconsideration of a denial of their motion to quash before the San Pablo, Laguna RTC. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News