MANILA — Shifting the trajectory of one of the country’s most closely watched criminal investigations, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has cleared actress Gretchen Barretto of any involvement in the disappearance of several sabungeros while simultaneously ordering the indictment of businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang and 21 others for multiple counts of kidnapping with homicide and serious illegal detention.
In a 120-page joint resolution, DOJ prosecutors found that the allegations tying Barretto and the so-called Pitmaster Alpha Group to the abductions were “speculative and uncorroborated.” The whistleblowers, Julie and Angelito Patidongan, merely claimed that Barretto and others were present in meetings where decisions were allegedly made to “punish” cheating sabungeros.
However, prosecutors emphasized that no evidence showed Barretto gave direct orders, participated in logistics, or knew of any planned abductions. They added that the supposed approvals during meetings were unsupported by documents, recordings, or independent witnesses.
According to the resolution, “even if Barretto and the others were present during meetings where crimes were allegedly discussed, this alone does not constitute conspiracy without proof of intent or participation.”
With no basis to establish criminal liability, the DOJ dismissed the complaint against Barretto and several others for lack of merit but noted that the case may be reopened if new evidence surfaces.
Ang, Police Officers Among Those Facing Charges
While Barretto was cleared, prosecutors said they found prima facie evidence to charge Ang and 21 others — including several police officers — in connection with the disappearance of cockfight enthusiasts between 2021 and 2022.
The DOJ said the group will be prosecuted for 10 counts of kidnapping with homicide and 16 counts of kidnapping with serious illegal detention, based on complaints filed by families of missing sabungeros.
Ang, who has consistently denied the allegations, will contest the findings. His lawyer, Gabriel Villareal, slammed the resolution as “deeply flawed and grossly unfair,” saying they will file a motion for reconsideration.
Court Filings Ahead
The DOJ said the cases will be filed before regional trial courts in Lipa City and in Santa Cruz and San Pablo, Laguna.
The sabungero disappearances gained national attention after whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan claimed that more than 100 individuals were abducted and killed.
In a related development, the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor’s Office in October dismissed Ang’s extortion complaint against Patidongan and another whistleblower, Alan Bantiles, citing insufficient evidence.
With the DOJ’s latest ruling, the years-long mystery over the missing sabungeros enters a new phase — one that shifts the spotlight away from celebrity suspicion and toward the prosecution of alleged masterminds and police accomplices./PN
