For the past four years, Julie “Totoy/Dondon” Patidongan had been in hiding after the news of the 34 missing cockfighting enthusiasts (sabungeros) broke out. He could have continued evading the attention, but the thought of his entire family getting killed prompted him to come out and reveal what he claims to know behind the high-profile case.

Patidongan formally filed a complaint affidavit against 12 police officers whom he accused of getting involved in the alleged abduction and killing of 34 sabungeros. He said the number of missing individuals could reach more than 100.

In a press conference after the filing of the complaint before the National Police Commission (Napolcom) on Monday, July 14, Patidongan appeared to be calm and collected, readily answering questions from the media on how the missing sabungeros were forcibly taken by the cops and brought to a farm leased by one of the accused near the Taal Lake in Batangas where they were killed and their remains dumped into the lake between 2021 to 2022.

But a question from the media as to why he suddenly came out after the case of missing sabungeros made national headlines years before made Patidongan break his tough persona in front of the camera.

“Kahit sinong tao kapag ang pinag-usapan dito pamilya, put**** nila (Anyone would be furious when it comes to their family getting involved, damn them),” he said in tears, standing up from his seat, his voice shaking.

“Wala akong kinatatakutan sa kanila. Kung alam niyo lang, buong pamilya ko papatayin niya (I'm not afraid of them. But if you only knew, my family will be killed),” he added.

Patidongan, who claims to own the majority of the betting stations where the missing sabungeros were placing their bets, did not mention who was behind the threat to his family’s lives.

However, in the same press conference, he accused gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang of masterminding the supposed killings of the missing sabungeros. Patidongan claimed Ang hired the cops to kidnap the sabungeros who were accused of cheating or fixing matches.

“Iyan ang sinabi ko sa kaniya, ‘Okay lang patayin mo ako pero patayin mo ang buong pamilya ko, hindi pwede ‘yan’ (That’s what I told him, ‘It’s okay if you kill me, but if you plan to kill my whole family, that’s not acceptable),” Patidongan said.

Ang, however, previously denied the accusations of Patidongan.

The businessman filed a case against Patidongan for robbery, grave threat, grave coercion, slander, and incriminating an innocent person.

Meanwhile, the Napolcom will evaluate the complaint of Patidongan against the accused cops and a resolution is expected to be released after 60 days.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) divers, on the other hand, continue to search for the remains of the missing sabungeros in Taal Lake, where five sacks containing burned human and animal remains have since been retrieved underwater.