Whistleblower files admin complaint vs police tagged in sabungeros case

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Julie 'Dondon' Patidongan claims that the police were paid to kill the sabungeros and bring their remains to Taal Lake

MANILA, Philippines – Julie “Dondon” Patidongan, one of the accused in the disappearance of sabungeros or cockfighting enthusiasts, named over 10 police officials and personnel he alleges to be involved in their abductions.

Patidongan, along with families of the missing sabungeros, filed an administrative complaint with the National Police Commission (Napolcom) on Monday, July 14, against the following cops:

• Police Colonel Jacinto Malinao Jr. (Visayas)
• Police Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Jay Orapa (Highway Patrol Group or HPG)
• Police Major Mark Philip Almedilla (Cavite HPG)
• Police Executive Master Sergeant Aaron Ezrah Cabillan (HPG)
• Police Chief Master Sergeant Arturo dela Cruz Jr. (Cavite HPG)
• Police Staff Master Sergeant (PSMS) Joey Encarnacion (Cavite HPG)
• PSMS Mark Anthony Manrique (HPG)
• PSMS Anderson Abale (Cavite HPG)
• Police Staff Sergeant Alfredo Andres (Cavite HPG, due for retirement)
• Police Corporal Angel Joseph Martin (Cavite HPG)

Patidongan, in his affidavit, claimed that the police were paid to kill the sabungeros and bring their remains to Taal Lake in Batangas.

The complaint is administrative in nature, which means the penalty could either be suspension or removal from police service, depending on the Napolcom’s ruling. Napolcom Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan said the gravest penalty could be dismissal from service.

Patidongan, who himself is accused in the kidnapping and serious illegal detention of six sabungeros from Rizal in 2022, earlier tagged his former boss, Atong Ang, as the alleged mastermind in the case. In response, Ang filed multiple criminal complaints — including slander — against his former trusted employee.

Prior to filing the complaint on Monday, Patidongan had already claimed that the sabungeros were dead and had been dumped in Taal Lake. Authorities are now scouring the waters of Taal to look for the alleged remains.

This is not the first time that police officials and personnel have been implicated in the sabungeros case. Three cops — Police Staff Sergeant Daryl Paghangaan and patrolmen Roy Navarete and Rigel Brosas — were charged with kidnapping over the disappearance of e-sabong master agent Ricardo Lasco Jr. in 2021. – Rappler.com