Gambling tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang denied yesterday the accusations against him and his associates of their involvement in the disappearance of 34 individuals allegedly involved in the manipulation of electronic sabong (cockfights).

Ang and actress Gretchen Barretto, nonetheless, will be included as suspects in the case of the missing sabungeros (cockfighting aficionados), Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said.

Remulla made the announcement after Julie “Dondon” Patidongan, a former security chief in Ang’s cockfight arenas, accused the latter of being the mastermind behind the missing sabungeros and linked Barretto to the disappearances.

“They will be included. Because they were named, we will have to include them as suspects,” Remulla said.

Ang, however, indicated the accusations made by Patidongan were one-sided and his group was being unfairly targeted.

Ang, chairperson of Pitmasters Group, said the allegations were based on one man’s perspective.

“We were filed cases against by a person whose side you only heard. Now, I want to be transparent and let the truth come out,” Ang said.

He insisted that those accused are decent individuals without any criminal records. “Everyone whom he accused should be examined carefully. The police are investigating, but our side is not being heard,” he added.

Ang refuted the claim that he offered P300 million as an investment to the whistleblower.

He deferred the explanation to his lawyer, Atty. Carol Cruz, who confirmed the P300 million figure came up in negotiations, but as part of a settlement plan, not a bribe or investment.

Settlement money

Cruz said the amount was discussed during a meeting at Edsa Shangri-La on 12 June involving Ang, Patidongan, and a mutual acquaintance named Alan Bantilis, known as “Brown.”

Bantilis reportedly approached Ang to help convince Patidongan to accept the money, which would facilitate his and his family’s departure from the country amid threats and pressures.

The talks were part of efforts to help Patidongan and his family escape a problematic situation, and not an attempt to buy his silence or obstruct justice, Ang said.

On the allegations involving other personalities mentioned by Patidongan, such as Ernesto Salazar, Ang clarified that Salazar was an engineer with no criminal record, dismissing the insinuations of wrongdoing against him.

He also said their group was repeatedly contacted and pressured by Patidongan and his allies, including calls for money, supposedly to fund a political campaign and to cover medical expenses.

“Last night, Brown called several people in our group to demand money to help Dondon escape. They were extorting us,” Ang said.

He expressed frustration at the ongoing harassment and the damage to their reputations. “He thinks once he says nonsense, he can just leave after getting the money. That’s the problem,” Ang added.

Ang, addressing the families of the missing sabungeros, said he hoped an investigation will uncover the truth and clear his group’s name. “We have no involvement in the disappearances. All our members are decent people,” he said.

He emphasized their need for protection amid the intense pressure and expressed readiness to face the courts to defend themselves.

“We don’t know what happened. We’ve been harassed too much. Now, we need to come out and fight,” Ang said.

Whistleblower has criminal record

Ang’s camp claimed alias Patidongan had a criminal record, including for sexual harassment, frustrated murder, murder and multiple frustrated murder, and robbery with threats and intimidation.

“So let’s see — is this whistleblower credible? That’s why we’re here. Our objective is for the truth to come out,” another of Ang’s lawyers, Atty. Lorna Kapunan, said.

“Let’s think about the families of the victims — some of them still haven’t been found. He [Patidongan] was directly responsible for this case. He was the farm manager who was given the trust and confidence of Mr. Ang,” she added.

Kapunan said they will cooperate with the government to find the real masterminds behind the disappearance of the missing sabungeros.

“We will truly cooperate with the secretary of Justice and the investigating officers,” she said.

She also said Patidongan could not qualify as a state witness because he was the guiltiest among the accused.

“To be a state witness, one must be less guilty. But in the RTC Manila case, he is the guiltiest,he had direct participation,” Kapunan said.

There is a case — Remulla

“There really is a complaint.” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said, reiterating the Department of Justice’s (DoJ) commitment to pursuing the case to its conclusion.

Remulla on Thursday said they were pushing forward with their investigation into the disappearance of the 34 sabungeros, stressing the case has gone “beyond private complaints” and is now a matter of national concern.

“This is no longer about the first five complaints,” Remulla said in an interview. “This is in the interest of the state. This is in the interest of the people, that there is closure.”

Remulla confirmed the DoJ has been building up the case for nearly three years and is nearing the stage of filing formal charges against several suspects, possibly including public figures.

“Our panel of fiscals will decide what specific cases to file based on the elements of the crimes we can prove in court,” he added.

He also confirmed that Barretto’s name came up in the investigation, but emphasized that the information is still being validated and has not yet resulted in formal charges or conclusions.

Some suspects may be discharged as state witnesses, noting the value of testimony from key figures such as Patidonang. Remulla said.

He emphasized that the investigation remains guided by evidence and justice, not public opinion or pressure.

“We study more than we talk. We have to be satisfied not just with curiosity but with a sense of justice,” he added.