A rape victim sought help from Citizens Crime Watch (CCW) after her camp alleged that the Department of Justice (DOJ) was giving “preferential treatment” to the suspect, who is a key witness in the case of missing sabungeros.

The victim, identified as Grace, 21, filed multiple complaints, including rape and illegal detention, against whistlebower Julie “Dondon” Patindongan.

Patindongan is currently under the Witness Protection Program (WPP) in connection with the missing sabungero case.

According to the victim, Patindongan allegedly committed the crime when she was just 16 years old.

She filed the complaint in August 2025 and met with the DOJ on Feb. 6 for the preliminary investigation.

The victim’s counsel, Atty. Glessa Janolino, on Friday, Feb. 13, narrated in a press conference that her client initially did not approach authorities after the crime out of fear and judgement.

She also did not join the press conference for the same reasons.

Janolino said that the case was filed with the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Sta. Cruz, Laguna, as it falls under the area’s jurisdiction.

She noted that the preliminary investigation pushed through on Oct. 7, 2025 but was transferred to the DOJ as the respondent was already under witness protection.

“Nag-follow-up po kami sa DOJ kasi ang sabi sa amin doon na magkakaroon ng preliminary investigation. So lumipas ang isang buwan, wala pa rin po ang sinasabi. Ang laging dahilan sa amin is wala sa kanila 'yung records ng case (We followed up with the DOJ because they told us there would be a preliminary investigation. So one month passed, and there's still nothing being said. Their constant excuse to us is that they don't have the case records),” Atty. Janolino said.

A letter of endorsement was given in November 2025 for the preliminary investigation of the DOJ, which concluded in Feb. 6.

Janolino said they approached the Citizens' Crime Watch through fellow lawyer Atty. Ferdinand Topacio.

“Kaya kami lumapit sa Citizens' Crime Watch through Atty. Topacio dahil ang laging sinasabi ng complainant, nasa ilalim 'yung respondent na si Julie Patidongan sa Witness Protection Program ng DOJ. At baka magkaroon pa ng, hindi naman sa hindi magandang kalabasan 'yung kaso niya pero isa po 'yung sa kinatatakot ng complainant natin (That's why we approached Citizens' Crime Watch through Atty. Topacio because the complainant keeps saying that the respondent, Julie Patidongan, is under the DOJ's Witness Protection Program. And there might be, not that the case would have a bad outcome, but that’s one of our complainant's fears),” she said.

“Kaya sabi ko sige ilapit natin so kaya kami narito lumapit sa Citizens' Crime Watch para matulungan nila kami na hindi lang mabaon sa limot 'yung kaso na isinampa ng ating complainant sa kasong ito (So I said, let's bring it to the attention of the Citizens' Crime Watch so they can help us so that the case filed by our complainant in this case doesn't just sink into oblivion),” she added.

Meanwhile, Atty, Topacio, who serves as Chairman of the CCW, stressed that anyone under WPP is not given immunity if tagged in other crimes.

“That should not be the case because nowhere in the law with respect to protected witnesses or state witnesses does it appear that the protected witness or the state witness has immunity or is entitled to preferential treatment with respect to crimes other than those covered by witness protection or being a state witness,” he said.

“Wala po sa batas na ikaw pag state witness ka, papaboran ka ng DOJ. Eto po, eto nangyayari nito. Dahil lamang kailangan sila sa isang case, mukhang binibigyan ng priority ng ating pamahalaan at parang kina-cuddle siya o bini-baby (It is not stated in the law that if you are a state witness, the DOJ will favor you. But this is what’s happening now. Just because they are needed in a case, it seems our government is giving them priority and treating them as if they are being cuddled or babied),” he added.

Meanwhile, CCW President Diego Magpantay said the group’s support to the victim does not aim to “destroy” the image or integrity of the respondent, including his role in the missing sabungeros case.

“Wala po kaming intention na sirahin po 'yung kanyang integrity as a witness. Ang gusto lang po natin is magaroon ng equal justice. Dito naman, papano naman itong victim na ito? Hahayaan na lang ba natin habang tumatanda 'yung victim, hindi niya pa rin natatamo 'yung kanyang justice na hinihiling? (We have no intention of destroying his integrity as a witness. All we want is for equal justice to be served. What about this victim? Are we just going to let the victim grow old and still not get the justice he is seeking?),” he explained.

Janolino said her client is keeping herself strong as she faces a high-profile opponent in court.