Murder raps filed vs 'main player' Atong Ang, others over missing sabungeros

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August 1, 2025 | 5:52pm

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed that the relatives of the missing sabungeros, or cockfighting enthusiasts, have filed multiple counts of murder and serious illegal detention charges against businessman Atong Ang and his associates.

In a press conference on Friday, August 1, DOJ Secretary Boying Remulla was asked about the charges filed against Ang, to which he said “tama yun (that is correct).” 

“Well, there is a key witness who testifies to the fact that person (Ang) was involved in the commission of these crimes as the mastermind and as the head of a criminal organization, so basically, we take it from that,” Remulla said in a mix of English and Filipino. 

Remulla called whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan a rare case, noting that there has never been a case in Philippine history where a whistleblower was so deeply embedded within a criminal organization.

“I think we should appreciate the fact that he is coming out bravely to do this,” Remulla said of Patidongan. 

The whistleblower's siblings have been picked up by the Philippine National Police abroad and are counted as missing links to the story. One of the siblings, Elakim Patidongan, was caught withdrawing money from the bank account of one of the missing sabungeros. 

Remulla said that one of the siblings witnessed firsthand how at least 10 of the sabungeros were killed. 

Meanwhile, Remulla called Ang the “main player” in the case, being Patidongan’s employer. 

“His money was being used to pay for the work of the contractors, police, so what is important here is to try this, for there to be a trial on the merits,” Remulla said in a mix of English and Filipino. 

The DOJ chief said there will be a fair trial when the time is right so that Filipinos can have a resolution to the case. 

“The Philippine justice system is on trial here,” Remulla said. 

Renulla admitted that the government is up against the best lawyers that money could buy after Ang and his party tried to flip the script and say that the Patidongan siblings were the main masterminds. 

The case of the missing sabungeros was reignited with the shocking testimonies of Patidongan, who claimed that the missing sabungeros were tossed in Taal Lake after they were killed.

He was also the one who tagged several high-profile personalities in the case, including actress Gretchen Barretto.