Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

Christopher Sitson

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/17515889971421751588995488.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Relatives of missing sabungeros  exit the building after meeting with Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla in his office inside the Department of Justice on January 13, 2023. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Eloisa Bohol, mother of a missing sabungero, hopes justice will be served as the mastermind behind her son’s disappearance was finally named four years later.</p><p>“Sana naman, makonsensiya s&#x27;ya kasi hindi naman mga hayup ‘yung mga pinatay niya… Sana may hustisya talaga para sa aming mga mahihirap,” Bohol told DZMM Teleradyo Friday, July 4.</p><p>Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin &quot;Boying&quot; Remulla said the Department of Justice now considers businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang and actress Gretchen Barreto as two of the masterminds behind the disappearance of more than 30 sabungeros, after whistleblower “Totoy,” who revealed himself as Julie &quot;Dondon&quot; Patidongan, identified them.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/3/atong-ang-gretchen-barretto-now-suspects-in-missing-sabungeros-case-doj-1443">Atong Ang, Gretchen Barretto now suspects in &#x27;missing sabungeros&#x27; case: DOJ</a></div><p>“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa DOJ dahil ngayon, naniniwala na po sila sa amin. Mayroon po talagang nangyari na ganun,” Eloisa said.</p><p>It has been four years since Eloisa&#x27;s son Kiel Daniel Bohol disappeared. She said authorities did not heed their call for justice due to “lack of evidence.”</p><p>“Sa loob po ng apat na taon, lagi po nilang sinasabi sa amin na wala kaming ebidensiya, walang kaming ano, kung anu-ano po &#x27;yung sinasabi nila sa amin. Ngayon po ito na ang pinakahinihintay namin sa loob ng apat na taon,” she said.</p><p>“Sabi nga po ng isang senador sa amin, ‘yung kalaban namin mas malaki pa ang pera niya sa pera ng Pilipinas. Kaya sana ‘yung hustisya ng Pilipinas, huwag po tumingin sa pera, sana po ang makitang hustisya naman, kung sino talaga ang may kasalanan, parusahan,” she added.</p><p>Bohol also lamented the “justice system’s unfair treatment of the rich and the poor,” after Ang filed multiple complaints against Patidongan, only a day after he tagged him as mastermind.</p><p>“Bakit kami noon, apat na taon nang gusto naming magdemanda o magkaso wala kaming… Bakit ngayon na si Atong Ang, napakarami niyang kasong tinanggap kaagad ng korte. ‘Di ba po kung iisipin niyo po, napaka-unfair para sa aming mga mahihirap,” she said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/3/pnp-we-don-t-have-standing-warrant-of-arrest-vs-alias-totoy-0033">PNP: We don’t have standing warrant of arrest vs alias ‘Totoy’</a></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/k0tt4DGLPiU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><strong>REMEMBERING THE SABUNGEROS</strong></div><p>A relative of two missing minors, along with other cockfighting enthusiasts, or sabungeros, also shared his plight Thursay night.</p><p>In a radio interview with DZMM Teleradyo program ‘Isyu Spotted,’ Aurelio Panaligan recalled the last moments before his 14-year-old nephew and 17-year-old cousin went missing in 2021.</p><p>He shared that his two relatives were helpers of a cockfighting farm in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.</p><p>“Sa kadahilanang lockdown po, sila ay nag-sideline na nagpapatuka sa farm ng Taiwanese dito sa aming lugar sa Catanauan, Quezon. ‘Yun po ‘yung naglalaban ng manok at pumupunta sa Sta. Cruz, Laguna,” Panaligan said.</p><p>The two went missing along with three others from Leyte. They were last seen at a farm in Sta. Cruz, Laguna, according to Panaligan.</p><p>“Basta po kinumpirma sa amin ng amo nila na ang kanyang mga tao ay nawawala na po,” he said.</p><p>Panaligan said his two relatives had nothing to do with cockfighting. “Mga bata pa po ‘yun, walang alam sa sugal,” he said.</p><p>“Sa amin po wala kaming hinala, doon lang po kami nag-isip nung nasa Senate hearing na kami na sabi ni Senator Bato, na maaaring idinamay na po ang mga bata kasi po may nakitang anomalya,” he added.</p><p>Panaligan called on the Taiwanese owner of the cock farm in Sta. Cruz, Laguna to reveal what he knows about the disappearances. </p><p>“Sana sabihin niya sa amin ‘yung huling pangyayari. Huling oras nakausap itong mga tao niya, kasi magkakasama silang nagpunta roon bakit siya nakauwi ng buhay ‘yung mga tao niya ay hindi. Panalo po sila sa derby na naganap. Kasi po sila ang nagbabantay ng manok kasi po pag nanalo o matalo may isang libo po sila bawat ulo ng manok kaya po siguro sila ay napilitang sumama, wala po silang alam sa ganung kalakaran,” he said.</p><p>Asked if he is familiar with Patidongan, Panaligan said, “Yes po. Habang kami ay uma-attend ng mga patawag ng PNP, DOJ, ‘yan po ay hard subject na nagkaroon ng patong sa ulo, nahuli, nakalaya. ‘Yung nahuli po ‘yan masaya na kami noon kala namin ‘yun na ‘yun kaso hindi pa pala.”</p><p>“Sabi nga po kahit sinong tao na nakakaalam, nako napakahirap ng kalaban ninyo, mabigyan pa kaya ng hustisya ‘yan. Kami po nagdarasal kami,” he added.</p><p>Panaligan shared that their family went through a difficult time after hearing Patidongan’s revelation.</p><p>“&#x27;Pag nababanggit pa niya kung paano raw po katayin ‘yung mahal namin sa buhay, pag nababanggit niya ‘yun, papasok sa isip namin kung anong klaseng paraan ginawa nila para patayin ‘yung aming mga mahal sa buhay. Nakakadurog po talaga ng damdamin po ‘yun. Nagdarasal kami na uuwi sila ng buhay, wala na pala,” Panaligan shared.</p><p>He said their family is convinced that the revelation of Patidongan is true.</p><p>“Sa amin po bilang naghahanap ng hustisya, naghahanap ng witness, para sa amin po credible po at totoo ang kanyang sinasabi,” he said.</p><p>“Kami po ay nananawagan at nakikiusap po na sana po sa lumalabas na katotohanang ito ay may mga taong magmalasakit at gumawa po ng tama, ito na po ‘yung panahon, ito na po ‘yung hinihintay namin hustisya at sagot. Buong-buo na po ang kwento. Ano pa po ba ang kulang? Dahil po ba mahirap lang kami na wala kaming pera, wala kaming pang-abogado. Sana po mayroong ahensya na tumulong sa amin. Kami po ang natatabunan,” he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/3/who-is-totoy-whistleblower-in-missing-sabungeros-reveals-identity-1659">Who is ‘Totoy’? Whistleblower in missing sabungeros steps out of the shadows</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/gVwn4khvxcU?si=Y974EitXEgealaol" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div>

<p>“Sana naman, makonsensiya sya kasi hindi naman mga hayup ‘yung mga pinatay niya… Sana may hustisya talaga para sa aming mga mahihirap,” Bohol told DZMM Teleradyo</p>

“Sana naman, makonsensiya sya kasi hindi naman mga hayup ‘yung mga pinatay niya… Sana may hustisya talaga para sa aming mga mahihirap,” Bohol told DZMM Teleradyo

'Sana may hustisya para sa aming mahihirap': missing sabungeros’ kin find hope for justice after 4 years

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'Sana may hustisya para sa aming mahihirap': missing sabungeros’ kin find hope for justice after 4 years

Marilyn Cahatol,

Christopher Sitson,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 04, 2025 09:26 AM PHT

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Updated Jul 04, 2025 11:24 AM PHT

Read More:

Atong Ang

Gretchen Barreto

Missing sabungeros

Totoy

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