Atong Ang submits missing sabungeros case counter-affidavit
Atong Ang filed a counter-affidavit on Friday to the murder and kidnapping charges he faces regarding the missing cockfighting enthusiasts.
His lawyer, Gabriel Villareal, stated that the evidence submitted to the Department of Justice includes a video allegedly showing whistleblower Julie "Dondon" Patidongan with one of the missing "sabungeros."
“May isang video kitang-kita ho si Dondon bitbit niya iyong isang nawawalang sabungero hanggang ngayon, iyon ang nakikita kong pinakamalakas na video evidence na pinresent namin ngayon sa prosecutor,” Villareal said.
Ang also submitted his counter-affidavit covering charges of forced disappearances, direct bribery, and passport tampering.
Moreover, Villareal noted that they have asked the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to conduct a reinvestigation.
“Kung madi-dismiss lang basta ang kaso, isang kahilingan ni Mr. Ang, masaya siya doon, tama iyon. Kaya lang magkakaroon pa rin duda at suspetsa sa isip ng tao kung sino talaga ang may kagagawan nung missing sabungeros, at nasaan ba ang missing sabungero,” Villareal said.
Patidongan accused Ang, actress Gretchen Barretto, as well as Eric Dela Rosa and Celso Salazar, of being the masterminds in the case of not just 34 but over 100 missing sabungeros.
Patidongan, who said he has been working for Ang for 15 years as the chief of security of his farms and cockfight areas, alleged that Ang is the pit master's chairman. "Siya ang mastermind, at siya ang nag-uutos na talagang iligpit ang mga 'yan," he said in his interview with GMA's 24 Oras.
While he's one of the six accused in the case, Patidongan asserted that he was merely following orders from Ang.
He also claimed that Barretto was fully aware of Ang's operations in the cockfight arena.
In July, Ang filed criminal charges before the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor's Office on Thursday against Patidongan and Alan Bantiles for false accusations related to the case of missing sabungeros.
Ang and Barretto denied the accusations, prompting the latter to file her counter-affidavit to the Department of Justice in relation to the missing sabungeros case last September.
