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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Preposterous': VP Sara shares dad Rody's reaction to his drug war linked to 'sabungeros' case

'Preposterous': VP Sara shares dad Rody's reaction to his drug war linked to 'sabungeros' case

Published Jul 16, 2025 02:00 pm
Former president Rodrigo Duterte finds it “preposterous” that he is being linked to the case of the missing cockfight enthusiasts as it was being alleged that some of the policemen involved in the case were linked to his administration’s brutal war on drugs campaign.

Vice President Sara Duterte and her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte (Photo from the House of Representatives)
Vice President Sara Duterte and her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte (Photo from the House of Representatives)
This was shared by Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, July 16, after her visit to her detained father.

“Sinabihan ko siya na (I told him that) there is an attempt to link him to the missing sabungeros case. So, sabi niya (he said) that it's preposterous. Yes. It's preposterous,” she told supporters in The Hague, Netherlands, where the former president is being detained for crimes against humanity of murder.

Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla revealed that some policemen are involved both in the drug war and the missing “sabungeros” case, but he said they would have to establish clearer links first.

Whistleblower Julie Patidongan, alias "Totoy," claimed that some missing sabungeros were executed and dumped in Taal Lake, which has now become the site of an operation to find their remains.

So far, several sacks containing alleged human remains have been retrieved from the lake. Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III confirmed that human remains were found in the search operations.

Meanwhile, Office of the Vice President (OVP) spokesman Ruth Castelo clarified that she is no longer the legal representative of businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang, who is being implicated in the case of the missing “sabungeros.”

“And as soon as he was released from Bicutan in 2009, that was the end of our lawyer-client relationship. (I) was never (his) lawyer again. We remained friends, yes, but his own activities, his endeavors, his own businesses, I have nothing to do with anymore,” she said.

“I have nothing to do with present day. No, I'm not involved in any of his activities from the time that he was released from Bicutan,” she added.

Castelo explained that Ang was his client in 2007 for the crime of plunder, where he was put on probation.

After completing a two-year probation period in Bicutan, he was released in 2009.

Related Tags

Rodrigo Duterte missing sabungeros VP Sara Duterte drug war Atong Ang
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