Marilyn Cahatol

Former Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Ruth Castelo answers questions during a press conference at the Office of the Vice President in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. Castelo was officially introduced as the new spokesperson of Vice President Sara Duterte, replacing Reynold Munsayac. The appointment comes amid ongoing public interest in the Vice President’s key programs and policy directions. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

OVP SPOKESPERSON

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175264455823620250709-ovp-spox-ruth-castelo-MT8.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Ruth Castelo answers questions during a press conference at the Office of the Vice President in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. Castelo was officially introduced as the new spokesperson of Vice President Sara Duterte, replacing Reynold Munsayac. The appointment comes amid ongoing public interest in the Vice President’s key programs and policy directions.<em> Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Office of the Vice President (OVP) Spokesperson <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/9/sara-duterte-office-taps-ex-dti-official-ruth-castelo-as-new-spokesperson-1050">Ruth Castelo</a> on Wednesday clarified that she no longer has ties to her former client <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/3/atong-ang-gretchen-barretto-now-suspects-in-missing-sabungeros-case-doj-1443">Charlie “Atong” Ang</a>, the gambling tycoon tagged in the disappearance and alleged killing of 34 cockfighting enthusiasts.</p><p>Castelo was Ang&#x27;s lawyer between 2007 and 2009, when he was charged with plunder for his involvement in the jueteng scandal of former President Joseph Estrada.</p><p>“We remained friends but his own activities, his own businesses, I have nothing to do with anymore. I am not involved,” Castelo told reporters.</p><p>The OVP spokesperson acknowledged that she was part of the team that worked on securing probation for Ang, who was released from jail in 2009.</p><p>More recently, Ang—who owns a gambling empire—was tagged as the mastermind behind the disappearance and killing of cockfighting enthusiasts, <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/6/wrap-flurry-of-allegations-revives-dormant-missing-sabungeros-case-2204">allegedly over suspicions of match fixing</a>.</p><p>He owns the Lucky 8 Star Quest cockfighting arenas where the said missing persons were last seen.</p><p>Ang denied the allegations.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/7/whistleblower-claims-cops-got-over-p2-m-monthly-from-ang-s-camp-in-missing-sabungero-case-2239">Whistleblower claims cops got over P2-M monthly from Ang’s camp in missing sabungero case</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nR1rVnDEaEQ?si=wEPkd1l1G-RRa7mC" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Spokesperson Ruth Castelo was Ang's lawyer between 2007 and 2009, when he was charged with plunder for his involvement in the jueteng scandal of former President Joseph Estrada.</p>

Spokesperson Ruth Castelo was Ang's lawyer between 2007 and 2009, when he was charged with plunder for his involvement in the jueteng scandal of former President Joseph Estrada.

OVP spox denies continued ties to ex-client Atong Ang and his businesses

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OVP spox denies continued ties to ex-client Atong Ang and his businesses

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 16, 2025 02:20 PM PHT

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Ruth Castelo

Atong Ang

Office of the Vice President

OVP

Missing Sabungeros

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