Ronnabelle Lora

PART 3 | In pursuit of truth and justice: The relentless fight of Tanggol against the Guerreros in “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo”

Article (news)

Mary Ann Bardinas

<div style="text-align:center">x<img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772101434594BQ-InfographicThumb.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="PART 3 | In pursuit of truth and justice: The relentless fight of Tanggol against the Guerreros in “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo”"/></div><p>As their fight against the Guerreros—and even Rigor (John Estrada)—continues, Tanggol (Coco Martin) unexpectedly found an ally within the ranks of the police who were pursuing him and his companions—neophyte policewoman Patrolwoman Paula “Ponggay” Garcia (Maris Racal).</p><p>Even though they are supposed to be on the opposite sides of the narrative, not to mention that she had been vocal about her faithfulness to her sworn duty as a law enforcer, Ponggay pledged to support Tanggol’s crusade in exposing the crimes of the Guerreros and in ending their decades-long reign in Manila. However, she made him promise to surrender his father and grandfather to the authorities and make them accountable to their misdeeds once the truth regarding the last elections comes out. </p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772101472117BQ-Infographic_18.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Ponggay and Tanggol’s desire for revenge against the Guerreros strengthened after she confessed that Miguelito harassed her inside his office at the city hall while she was on-duty as his close-in security. Her father, Mauro (Richard Quan), initially had hesitations about Ponggay’s plan to file charges against Miguelito due to the power and influence that the Guerreros hold, but Tanggol urged them to take action.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772101485354BQ-Infographic_19.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Tanggol also expressed his willingness to help Mauro with his plan of bringing down and seeking retribution against the Guerrero family, especially Roberto who betrayed him on his first time working for him as his bagman. They planned on exposing the Guerreros’ links with illegal drug trade in Manila using the videos and photos that Mauro captured when he once again worked with him at present.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772101498857BQ-Infographic_20.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Unfortunately, Mauro and his partner, Linda (Aleck Bovick), were killed when the Red Phoenix Group, alongside Enrique Espinelli (Art Acuña) attacked their abode. All members of the said gang were killed, except for their leader Lucio, who promised to cooperate with them as long as they would spare him from death. The deaths of her father and stepmom further intensified Ponggay’s yearning to get back at the Guerreros, to which Tanggol vowed to help her seek justice for Mauro.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772106935351BQ-Infographic_21.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><p>After beating him up out of immense rage, Ponggay and Tropang Tanggol then forced Lucio to expose the Guerreros via a recorded confession. He admitted that the Guerreros hired the Red Phoenix to sabotage the final campaign rally of Team Tanggol and to manipulate the election results—which totally infuriated them, especially Tanggol.  </p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772101552256BQ-Infographic_22.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Prior to this, the confession video of Nita (Susan Africa) and Marsing (Pen Medina) revealing the anomaly behind the expired relief goods that were distributed to the fire victims in Manila was also released—much to the shock and disgust of the Guerreros. This triggered a heated argument among them, with both Don Gustavo and Roberto blaming Jackie and Miguelito for their bungled plans that backfired at them.</p><p>The Dimaculangan couple admitted to be their suppliers and disclosed that Congresswoman Jackie only gave them a meager budget for each box of relief goods, yet she declared in the audit report that every package was worth P15,000. Besides, they also confirmed that the Guerreros tapped them in their vote-buying activities. Their confession happened during their chance encounter with Tanggol.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772101584840BQ-Infographic_23.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772101599577BQ-Infographic_24.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772107043301BQ-Infographic_25.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Rigor and Mando (Allan Paule) were able to track down the hideout of Tanggol and his group after secretly tailing Tindeng (Charo Santos) and Roda (Joel Lamangan) when they visited them. Rigor immediately called for back up and a fierce battle broke out afterwards, resulting in the death of Don Julio. Lucio escaped and met with Roberto, who ended up killing him upon learning that he betrayed him. </p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772107080582BQ-Infographic_26.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><p>To avenge the death of Don Julio, the group of Tanggol carried out an ambush against the family, which caused the brutal encounter between them and the joint forces of the Guerreros and the Quiapo police. They were accompanied by Rockyboy (Baron Geisler), who introduced himself as Bernard Aguirre and pretended to be their ally. Little did they know that he had ulterior motives against them, specifically with Tanggol.</p><p>Amidst the commotion, he accidentally shot Erika (Gillian Vicencio), the sister of Miguelito and the girlfriend of Tanggol’s youngest brother, Santino (Ronwaldo Martin). Seeing his brother in the vicinity, Santino thought that it was really Tanggol who murdered Erika, so he went after him and attempted to kill him. What he did was witnessed by Miguelito who was surprised and delighted and manipulated him into finishing off Tanggol. </p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772101664459BQ-Infographic_27.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, Ramon managed to corner and kill Don Gustavo by riddling his body with bullets.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772101683579BQ-Infographic_28.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><p>The Guerreros’ fury against Tanggol and his family further amplified when they learned through Don Gustavo’s lawyer that he wished to give half of his wealth to Marites, Tindeng, Santino, and Tanggol.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772101707898BQ-Infographic_29.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><p>After Tanggol and Ponggay kept their allegiance under wraps, it was finally unraveled by PLt. Hector Victorino (Aljur Abrenica), who followed the policewoman on her way to the house of Congressman Leo Mojica (Rey Campanilla), which served as their new hideout. He immediately called for backup and a deadly shootout ensued, killing several of their comrades, including Hector himself.</p><p>Ponggay may have pretended that she was there to also fight against the notorious group, but one of her colleagues reported her to Rigor. He told their chief that Ponggay was actually not part of the unit and he caught her interacting with Tanggol and his group. Rigor had her arrested and interrogated on the spot. </p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772101723441BQ-Infographic_30.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Upon learning about what happened to Ponggay, Roberto swung by the police station the following day to speak with her. He offered to help her with the administrative cases filed against her in exchange for cooperating with them, but she strongly rejected it and instead vowed to make him and his family pay for all their crimes, including her father’s death.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772101740519BQ-Infographic_34.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Since he failed to persuade Ponggay to side with the Guerreros, Roberto ordered through PMGen Berbano for her to be silenced permanently. She was transferred to another cell alongside Councilor Evelyn Dumlao (Tess Antonio), wherein she figured in an altercation with a group of female inmates. </p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772101752000BQ-Infographic_35.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Ponggay managed to survive Roberto’s two wicked schemes against her—being stabbed while in detention and being almost murdered by a woman who posed as a nurse while recuperating in a hospital.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><h3 style="text-align:center"><strong></strong><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2026/2/27/part-2-the-relentless-fight-of-tanggol-against-the-guerreros-in-fpjs-batang-quiapo-1057"><strong>Page 2 &lt;&lt;&lt; PREVIOUS </strong></a></h3><h3 style="text-align:center"><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2026/2/27/part-4-the-relentless-fight-of-tanggol-against-the-guerreros-in-fpj-s-batang-quiapo-1059"><strong>NEXT &gt;&gt;&gt; Page 4</strong></a></h3>

<p>FPJ’s Batang Quiapo: As Tanggol and his group found an unlikely ally in neophyte police officer, Ponggay Garcia, the Guerreros found themselves in hot water as their corruption and misdeeds finally got exposed. - Page 3</p>

FPJ’s Batang Quiapo: As Tanggol and his group found an unlikely ally in neophyte police officer, Ponggay Garcia, the Guerreros found themselves in hot water as their corruption and misdeeds finally got exposed. - Page 3