Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Sabong

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17515237501135684da7d37c6ffc7c43e24469b47568c94ad0c9eb7d747ab7bcbe7e055123c94.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Photo of Gretchen Barretto and Atong Ang at a sabong event in 2021. <em>ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATED)</strong> — Businessman Atong Ang and actress Gretchen Barretto are now considered suspects in the case of missing cockfighters, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Thursday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/3/atong-ang-hints-at-extortion-in-missing-sabungeros-case-puno-t-dulo-nito-pera-1108">Atong Ang hints at extortion in &#x27;missing sabungeros&#x27; case: &#x27;Puno’t dulo nito pera&#x27;</a></div><p>Asked when cases will be filed against Ang and Barretto, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin &quot;Boying&quot; Remulla told reporters “sooner than later it will happen.”</p><p>He said the two are part of the investigation because they were mentioned by name, “so we have to include them as suspects.” </p><p>He said prosecutors will still evaluate details of the case to determine what they will file against Ang and Barretto.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/3/-walang-sisinuhin-ang-pangulo-palace-assures-sabungeros-probe-will-spare-no-one-1353">&#x27;Walang sisinuhin ang Pangulo&#x27;: Palace vows &#x27;missing sabungeros&#x27; probe will spare no one</a></div><p>A case buildup is also ongoing against the pair but Remulla admitted the fight is difficult due to the money and connections involved. </p><p>Some stories and information, however, need to be validated, he said.</p><p>He said there are 20 people on the &#x27;alpha&#x27; list, or those in “the main group that runs the show.”</p><div><strong>‘ENOUGH EVIDENCE’</strong></div><p>Whistleblower alias &quot;Totoy&quot; claimed <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/2/-not-just-30-whistleblower-says-100-sabungeros-gamblers-allegedly-killed-dumped-in-taal-lake-0744">more than 100 have gone missing or were killed in connection</a> with illegal gambling operations, including jueteng.</p><p>“Totoy”, who claims to be a former farm manager and trusted aide of businessman Ang, said the victims were killed after they were caught cheating in the cockfighting games.</p><p>Asked if there was enough evidence in the whistleblower’s statements, Remulla said, “there may be enough.” </p><p>“In fact sometimes you can suffer an indigestion of information that comes out or that came out from the statements given – even parts of the documents submitted to us so we just have to thoroughly weigh everything,” he said. </p><p>He added case buildup and prosecution take time, &quot;day by day, hearing by hearing.&quot;</p><p>What is clear, the official said, is that they would not be affected by the pronouncements of alias “Totoy” and Ang against each other. </p><p>&quot;We have been looking at this case for the past three years. Bagong pasok pa lang kami dito, inaasikaso na namin, inaatupag na namin,&quot; he said. </p><p>(We were still new to the position when we started looking into this)</p><p>Earlier Thursday, Ang formally filed a complaint against alias “Totoy” who claimed he was the &quot;mastermind&quot; behind the disappearance and alleged killing of the &quot;missing sabungeros.&quot;</p><p>Ang said &quot;Totoy&quot; is jut trying to extort money from his group. He also denied his involvement in the disappearance of the cockfight gamers. </p><p>The whistleblower said he was just finalizing some details in his sworn affidavit, and he would be filing it in court in the coming days.</p><p>The Philippine National Police–Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) earlier said it cannot move forward with a substantial administrative investigation into the cockfight enthusiasts case without a sworn affidavit from the key witness. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/08/03/21/viral-gretchen-barretto-at-atong-ang-magkasama-sa-sabungan">VIRAL: Gretchen Barretto at Atong Ang, magkasama sa sabungan</a></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SdobGC6q-Nw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Asked when cases will be filed against Atong Ang and Grentchen Barretto, Justice Secretary Boying Remulla told reporters “sooner than later it will happen.”</p>

Asked when cases will be filed against Atong Ang and Grentchen Barretto, Justice Secretary Boying Remulla told reporters “sooner than later it will happen.”

Atong Ang, Gretchen Barretto now suspects in 'missing sabungeros' case: DOJ

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Atong Ang, Gretchen Barretto now suspects in 'missing sabungeros' case: DOJ

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 03, 2025 02:43 PM PHT

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Updated July 03, 2025 03:49 PM PHT

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