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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Ridon slams Patidongan's 'threats' to TV reporter; calls for probe

Ridon slams Patidongan's 'threats' to TV reporter; calls for probe

Published Nov 21, 2025 02:55 am

At A Glance

  • Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon believes that an investigation is warranted on the viral "threats" made by Julie "Dondon" Patidongan--the self-proclaimed whistleblower in the "missing sabungeros (cockfighting enthusiasts)" case--to a television news reporter.
Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon (PPAB)
Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon (PPAB)


Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon believes that an investigation is warranted on the viral "threats" made by Julie “Dondon” Patidongan--the self-proclaimed whistleblower in the "missing sabungeros (cockfighting enthusiasts)" case--to a television news reporter.
"It's important for Congress to look into threats to journalists made by Julie Patidongan," Ridon, chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, said in Filipino.
"This is an affront to press freedom, and has a huge effort on the role of the press in truth-seeking, particularly in the most complicated and difficult issues, such as the case of the missing sabungeros," said the lawyer-legislator.
Ridon was referring to Patidongan’s recorded conversation with ABC-5 news correspondent Gary De Leon, which has made the rounds online.
In the video clip, where the Patidongan allegedly threatened De Leon, whom he accused of being “biased and paid".
Records showed that the incident took place on Oct. 27, 2025, when De Leon reached out via phone to Patidongan and his lawyers for an interview.
But no interview happened during the phone conversation, as an irked Patidongan took the chance to make allegations against De Leon and eventually threatened him, according to published reports.
Earlier, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) vowed to investigate the matter after it was brought to its attention by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP).
In a separate statement, the NUJP condemned Patidongan’s alleged threats against De Leon, who was only trying to interview Dondon for a follow-up story on the case.
Since the incident was reported, Patidongan has yet to air his side of the story, while De Leon and his network have already issued statements on the matter.
De Leon's media colleagues have also come out to vouched for his integrity and at the same time expressed concern for his safety.
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