Atong seeks exclusion from Manila sabungero case

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March 24, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The camp of fugitive gaming tycoon Charlie Ang is seeking his exclusion from the case of missing cockfight enthusiasts filed before a Manila court.

Ang’s lawyer Gabby Villareal yesterday accused whistleblower Julie Patidongan of trying to save himself from the charges filed against him since he has applied for witness protection.

“To have himself removed from the (Manila) case, part of his commitment under the witness protection agreement was to implicate Ang,” Villareal said.

Patidongan has “filed an affidavit recanting his earlier statement denying any involvement in the (Manila Arena) case,” Villareal said, noting that “Patidongan is among those accused of kidnapping (John Claude) Inonog (and others).”

“We’re curious since his recantation came at a time when the prosecution was already closing the case and there is clear evidence from the prosecution that the kidnapping in Manila was masterminded not by Atong Ang, but by Patidongan,” Villareal said.

Patidongan and Villareal attended yesterday’s preliminary investigation at the Department of Justice (DOJ) into the 2022 disappearance of sabungeros in Manila.

Polo Martinez, spokesman for the DOJ, said the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group initiated the reopening of the preliminary probe.

“The purpose of the reopening is to identify the initially unknown John Does. If and when so determined, said John Does will be subsequently charged in the ongoing trial,” Martinez said.