Daily Tribune
Family members of the missing sabungeros troop to the Department of Justice in Ermita, Manila, on 04 July 2025, to seek updates on the case. They also met with DOJ Assistant Secretary Eliseo Cruz for the progress of the investigations where a whistleblower points to businessman Atong Ang as one of the masterminds.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said another witness is expected to come forward in connection with the ongoing investigation into the case of the missing sabungeros (cockfighting enthusiasts).
Remulla did not provide further details about the new witness.
Earlier, Remulla said that Elakim Patidongan, the brother of a key figure known as Alias Totoy Patidongan, claimed to have witnessed the killings of 10 missing sabungeros from Santa Cruz, Lipa, Batangas.
According to Remulla, Elakim was retrieved from Cambodia, where he claimed he had been detained on orders from business tycoon Atong Ang, who allegedly also supplied him with a fake passport.
Elakim is also the individual Alias Totoy previously identified as the person seen withdrawing money from one of the missing victims’ accounts.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed that Elakim and another brother, Jose Patidongan, were arrested abroad and returned to the Philippines on 22 July.
