Atong Ang’s lawyer says conscience clear after giving cash to missing sabungeros’ kin

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May 22, 2026 | 11:34am

MANILA, Philippines — The lawyer of business tycoon Atong Ang, admitted on Thursday, May 21, that she gave cash to the families of the missing sabungeros but only as a form of assistance.

In an interview with GMA News, lawyer Caroline Cruz responded to allegations stemming from a May 20 press conference at the National Police Commission, where the remaining five complainants presented the P30,000 cash they claimed she gave them after an April 16 meeting.

However, Cruz said that she only gave them a total of P20,000 composed of P500 bills.

“Nagulat nga ako when they were showing P1,000 bills supposedly contained in a brown envelope, when I vividly remember giving them money all in P500 denominations,” Cruz said.

(I was surprised when they were showing P1,000 bills supposedly contained in a brown envelope, when I vividly remember giving them money all in P500 denominations.)

Contrary to claims that she was the first to reach out to the families, Cruz also said that it was the families of the missing sabungeros who made an unscheduled visit to her office on April 20.

“I was surprised by their visit, but I welcomed them. It was a cordial meeting, if I am to describe it,” Cruz said.

Cruz further insisted that she was only searching for the truth and that she expected nothing in return for the cash she gave to the families.

“My conscience is clean. I am more than willing to answer all their charges if and when required by the proper legal forum,” the lawyer added.

Dozens of cockfight enthusiasts went missing between 2021 and 2022 due to a syndicate allegedly composed of police officers and arena personnel involved in abduction and murder linked to online sabong. 

Suspects were accused of killing the victims and dumping their bodies in Taal Lake, leading to the recovery of skeletal remains and the issuance of arrest warrants against several individuals involved.