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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider A 'very influential' figure likely called the shots in missing 'sabungeros' - Bato

A 'very influential' figure likely called the shots in missing 'sabungeros' - Bato

Published Jul 9, 2025 03:21 pm
A group as big as the missing sabungeros won't just vanish into thin air unless an influential figure orchestrated it.
Senator Ronald
Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa (Office of Senator Dela Rosa)
This was according to Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, who led an investigation in the Senate regarding the matter in 2022 under the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs.
"Hindi man siguro mag-disappear yung ganung kalaking 34 na mga tao kung walang nasa likuran diyan na very influential at nagbibigay ng kumpas (It’s unlikely that such a large group of 34 people would just disappear if there wasn’t someone influential behind it, orchestrating and giving directions)," he said in a press conference on Wednesday, July 9.
"Sa atin lang, at that time we don't have the evidence to connect to the management ng Pitmaster dahil nga wala talagang ebidensya na magko-connect, hanggang doon lang tayo sa disappearance na may kumuha na tao (As for us, at that time we didn’t have the evidence to link it to the management of Pitmaster because there really was no proof connecting them. We could only go as far as the disappearance and the fact that some people took them),” he added.
Businessman and gaming tycoon Charlie 'Atong' Ang is an executive of Pitmaster Foundation.
Julie 'Dondon' Patidongan alias 'Totoy' revealed the alleged connection of Ang and other prominent personalities to the disappearance of the sabungero in various cockfight arenas and their homes in Manila, Laguna, Batangas, and Bulacan.
He added that all of these men were already dead and their bodies were allegedly buried in Taal Lake in Batangas.
"Criminally, kaya nga hindi tayo pati ang PNP at NBI mismo hindi nakapag-file ng kaso directly linking Atong Ang because wala ngang direct na evidence. Pero ngayon na meron nang itong testimonial evidence na pino-provide ni Dondon Patidongan then pupuwede nilang ma-file yun (“Criminally, that’s exactly why neither we, nor even the PNP and NBI, were able to file a case directly linking Atong Ang—because there was no direct evidence. But now that there is testimonial evidence being provided by Dondon Patidongan, they can now file a case),” Dela Rosa stated.
Unless someone in the Senate files a resolution, Dela Rosa said he's open to reopen the investigation.
Meanwhile, as former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Dela Rosa said that cops' involvement in the case is possible considering that three were charged after the kidnapping of Ricardo Lasco, a master agent of online cockfighting or e-sabong on Aug. 30, 2021.
“Napakasama na magpagamit tayo sa sindikato if you call it. Pulis ka you are there to uphold the law you are there to enforce the law, ngayon viniolate mo yung batas para sumunod kung sinoman nag-utos sayo na, I’m sure in consideration of money. Ano pa motivation mo doon na gagawin yun kung hindi ka sinusuhulan? (“It’s truly wrong for us to allow ourselves to be used by a syndicate, if that’s what you call it. As a police officer, you are there to uphold and enforce the law. But now, you’ve violated the law just to follow whoever gave you orders—and I’m sure it’s because of money. What other motivation would you have to do that if you weren’t being bribed?)” Dela Rosa said.
"That's beyond your job description as a police operative na mag-kidnap ng tao at pumatay ng tao at itapon kung saan-saan (That’s beyond your job description as a police operative—to kidnap people, to kill them, and to dump them anywhere)," he added.
As far as credibility is concerned, Dela Rosa stated that Patidongan could have been more credible if he had spoken about it during the Senate investigation.

Related Tags

missing sabungeros Atong ang Bato Dela Rosa online gambling PNP
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