Atong Ang files raps vs suspect-witness, ex-staff over missing sabungeros claims

Metro Manila, Philippines - Gaming tycoon Atong Ang filed a complaint against his former employees, one of whom is a suspect-turned-witness in the case of missing cockfighters or sabungero.

Ang lodged his complaint against Julie Patidongan alias Totoy and Alan Bantiles alias Brown before the Mandaluyong Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday, July 3.

The cases against Patidongan and Bantiles are conspiracy to commit attempted robbery, grave threats, and grave coercion. Additional complaints of slander and incriminating against innocent persons were filed against Patidongan.

Patidongan tagged Ang in the disappearances of at least 34 cockfighters and claimed that their bodies were dumped in Taal Lake in Batangas.

Ang denied the allegations.

“Wala kaming kinalaman lahat diyan… Lahat ng grupo namin, mga disenteng tao ‘yan. Ang hilig lang namin, sabong lang,” he said in a press conference. “Masyado lang kaming bugbog, kailangan namin lumabas, kailangan namin lumaban.”

[Translation: We are not involved in that. Our groups have decent people. We are just cockfight enthusiasts. We need to fight back because we are battered.]

In his complaint affidavit, Ang said that in 2023, Patidongan discussed with the businessman’s security personnel, Rogelio Borican Jr., a plan to kill him but Borican refused.

“During the course of that clandestine meeting, Dondon openly discussed to carry out a grave and calculated criminal scheme that included the kidnapping and eventual murder of my person, the extortion of ransom money from my family, and the commission of robbery in my various residences,” Ang stated.

“The plan was not only premeditated but shockingly detailed, with the primary objective of unlawfully obtaining a substantial amount of cash and other valuable assets registered under my name,” he said.

Bantiles and a certain Ryuji Toshioka alias Hapon were “expected to act as the main supporter and facilitator in carrying out the planned scheme and the proceeds were to be divided equally among them.”

The businessman also said that early this year, Bantiles suggested paying P300 million to Patidongan as a form of separation pay and if Ang will not heed, Patidongan will implicate him in the disappearance case.

Ang sent a message to Patidongan.

“Mag-isip ka, Don. Huwag ka nang magsinungaling nang magsinungaling,” the businessman said.

[Translation: Think it over, Don. Stop spreading lies.]

The government assured that investigation on the case remains underway.

The missing sabungeros case stems from 34 cock breeders, agents, and cockfighting players who disappeared without clues after attending some matches in Manila, Laguna, Batangas, and Bulacan on separate dates from April 2021 to January 2022.

The six security guards at Manila Arena that were identified as suspects were detained in 2022 and facing kidnapping and serious illegal detention raps but were later released on bail.

In 2024, the Court of Appeals cited strong evidence in the six suspects’ involvement and ordered them rearrested in January this year.