Kin of missing sabungeros file obstruction of justice vs. Atong Ang's lawyer

Families of missing sabungeros or cockfight enthusiasts filed Friday an obstruction of justice complaint with the Department of Justice (DOJ) against the lawyer of businessman Atong Ang for allegedly offering cash to their group in exchange for not attending trial hearings.

Charlene Lasco, a sister of missing sabungero Ricardo Lasco, said they filed the complaint against lawyer Caroline Cruz and three other individuals.

"As you all know, napansin niyo naman na kami noong araw ay marami. Ngayon minimal na lang po kami. So 'yung mga kasamahan namin ay nandoon na sa kabilang panig at tumatanggap ng pera para lamang hindi um-attend sa aming kaso," Lasco said.

(As you all know, you probably noticed that we had more numbers before. Now we are only a few. Minimal. So our companions are now on the other side and are accepting money just so they will not attend our case proceedings.)

She alleged that some would receive P20,000 or P40,000 every month.

Meanwhile, Diane Loyola, the wife of one of the missing sabungeros, said the cases are being affected by the absences.

"Katulad po nu'ng nakaraang hearing namin, imbes na uupo po 'yung mga families, papatunayan na may mga nawawala, tatatlo na lang po kaming um-attend sa Sta. Cruz instead of 19," she said.

(Like in our previous hearing, instead of the families sitting down to prove that there are missing persons, only three of us attended in Sta. Cruz instead of 19.)

Three former police officers are facing kidnapping, serious illegal detention, and robbery with violence charges in connection with the alleged kidnapping of e-sabong master agent Ricardo Lasco.

'Multuhin sana...'

Olyn, Lasco's other sister, said she hopes that those who settled their case would be haunted by their relatives.

"Nakakasama ng loob, sobra. Tapos nasaan na 'yung mga pinaglalaban nila? Hustisya, hustisya para sa mga kaanak nila. Hustisya, mabigyan lang kayo ng kaonting pera, pinagpalit niyo na kamaganak niyo?" she said.

(It hurts deeply, extremely so. Where are the things they were fighting for? Justice, justice for their relatives. Justice, but just because you were given a little money, you already traded away your relatives?)

"Ako masasabi ko sa kanila, multuhin sana sila ng mga kamaganak nila na ipinagpalit nila sa pera," she added.

(I can say to them, may the relatives they traded for money haunt them.)

GMA News Online has asked Cruz and the Department of Justice for comment, but they have yet to respond as of posting time.

Arrest warrants have been issued against Ang and others, stemming from multiple counts of kidnapping with homicide and kidnapping and serious illegal detention in connection with the missing sabungeros case.

Ang has denied the allegations against him. An Interpol red notice was issued against Ang in April.

The government has offered a P20-million reward for information leading to Ang’s arrest. — VDV, GMA News