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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Atong Ang to file motion for reconsideration; lawyer hits 'flawed, unfair' DOJ resolution on missing sabungeros case

Atong Ang to file motion for reconsideration; lawyer hits 'flawed, unfair' DOJ resolution on missing sabungeros case

Published Dec 10, 2025 07:59 am
Gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang files raps against Julie “Dondon” Patidongan alias “Totoy” and Alan Bantiles alias “Brown” who accused him to be the mastermind behind the abduction of several cockfight watchers before the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor's Office on Thursday, July 3, 2025. (Santi San Juan)
Gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang files raps against Julie “Dondon” Patidongan alias “Totoy” and Alan Bantiles alias “Brown” who accused him to be the mastermind behind the abduction of several cockfight watchers before the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor's Office on Thursday, July 3, 2025. (Santi San Juan)
The legal counsel of Charlie “Atong” Ang lambasted the resolution of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to charge the businessman in connection with the cases involving the disappearance of more than 30 cockfighting aficionados, or the controversial “missing sabungeros” case.
Lawyer Gabriel Villareal said they will likely file a motion for reconsideration to ask the DOJ to reverse its decision to include his client in the charge sheet for cases of kidnapping with homicide and kidnapping with serious illegal detention.
He described the DOJ Resolution as "deeply flawed and grossly unfair to the accused."
"The ruling, while likely given the bias apparent from DOJ conduct, suffers from clear factual gaps and substantial inconsistencies. Clearly the panel relied heavily on the flawed testimony of a lone witness whose integrity is irreversibly compromised," Villareal said in a statement.
"It is unfortunate that the DOJ has been taken for a ride by a dubious witness masquerading as a crusader, out to pin the blame on my client to save his hide," he added.
The fact that the DOJ did not recommend the filing of cases against the majority of those who were originally implicated in the case is, according to Villareal, by itself, glaring proof of the spurious nature of Patidongan’s account.
He is referring to Julie Patidongan, the whistleblower in the missing sabungeros case whose information resulted in the filing of the case.
Patidongan earlier tagged Ang and several persons, including policemen, as being involved in the disappearance and killing of more than 100 sabungeros who were accused of game-fixing in online sabong.
Villareal, for his part, said the DOJ panel should have directed the Philippine National Police-Criminal Detection and Investigation Group (PNP-CIDG) to reinvestigate the case as was strongly argued by the defense team.
"Ordering a police reinvestigation is not only proper but mandated given the serious questions surrounding the legality and fairness of how this case has been handled,” he said.
But Villareal expressed confidence that his client will finally be cleared of the cases.
"We are confident that we will debunk all malicious and fabricated claims made by Patidongan at the opportune time. He is the architect of this gruesome crime, no other,’ said Villareal.
“It is rather anomalous that the Patidongan brothers were not charged in the case despite clear evidence of their participation in the alleged abduction and disappearance of certain cockfighting enthusiasts,” he added.
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