Julia Christine Botin

Patidongan brods' affidavits to strengthen raps vs missing sabungero masterminds - PNP

Article (news)

Marilyn Cahatol

ABS-CBN News

<p>The Philippine National Police on Friday morning said the statements of whistleblower Julie Patidongan and his arrested brothers will be used to strengthen the charges filed against the alleged masterminds behind the disappearances of dozens of cockfighting enthusiasts.</p><p>“Itong dalawang tao na hawak natin ngayon ang makakapagpatunay doon sa sinasabi ni Julie Patidongan doon sa mga una niyang interview na di umano ay kanyang mga tauhan na may kinalaman at least dito sa dalawang kaso ng mga nawawalang sabungero,” PBGen. Jean Fajardo, PNP spokesperson, told DZMM Teleradyo.</p><p>Elakim and Jose Patidongan, brothers of Julie, were arrested in an undisclosed Southeast Asian country and brought back to the Philippines on July 22.</p><p>Elakim was caught using an ATM card of victim Melbert John Santos, while Jose was seen in a video escorting a handcuffed victim, Michael Bautista, in Sta. Cruz on April 28, 2021.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/31/2-brothers-of-missing-sabungeros-whistleblower-totoy-arrested-pnp-1111">‘Missing links’ in sabungeros case: Whistleblower&#x27;s brothers arrested – PNP</a></div><p>The PNP expects the two to reveal how they were involved in the disappearances of the cockfighting enthusiasts and who gave them orders.</p><p>Fajardo said they expect the arrested brothers’ statement to support Julie’s earlier claims that he was not alone in executing the cockfighting enthusiasts, and that there is a mastermind behind the disappearances.</p><p>Julie earlier tagged businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang, actress Gretchen Barreto and 15 police officers in the case.</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>On whether charges will be pressed against the brothers, Fajardo said: “Kailangan muna silang makasuhan para later on sa appreciation ng prosecutor, yung kanilang testimonya ay absolute necessity para mapatunayan itong krimen na ito sa pagkawala ng missing sabungero.” </p><p>She noted the Department of Justice and PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) are set to meet today for the submission of additional evidence.</p><p>“Inaasahan na itong mga bagong ebidensiya na isusumite would meet the requirement po na reasonable certainty of conviction,” Fajardo said.</p><p>She added that DOJ will likely release a resolution to file charges against the individuals the brothers’ statements and evidence show are guilty on the case.</p><p>“Naniniwala tayo na hindi pwedeng isang tao lang ang gagawa ng pagkawala ng 34 missing sabungero. Definitely, the logic will tell us na may matataas na tao o grupo that would perpetuate this kind of crime,” Fajardo said.</p><div><strong>DNA PROFILE FOUND FROM BONES RETRIEVED FROM BATANGAS CEMETERY</strong></div><p>Fajardo told DZMM that the PNP forensics group found DNA profiles from the human bones retrieved from a cemetery in Batangas, but did not match any of the 23 DNA profiles shared by the families of the missing sabungeros.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/31/-sabungeros-case-3-dna-profiles-extracted-from-remains-found-in-laurel-cemetery-1349">‘Sabungeros’ case: 3 DNA profiles extracted from remains found in Laurel cemetery</a></div><p>“Kaya nananawagan po tayo na kung mayroon pa pong mga kaanak na willing po na magsumite ng kanilang DNA sample para mai-cross-match natin dito sa tatlong DNA profile na na-extract po natin sa isang sementeryo sa Batangas,” said Fajardo.</p><p>Meanwhile, PNP said it failed to find a DNA profile among the first batch of human bones retrieved from Taal Lake.</p><p>The skulls retrieved from the lake on July 30 would undergo DNA cross-matching if verified as human bones, she said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/30/skull-found-in-taal-lake-search-for-missing-sabungeros-1537">Skull found in Taal Lake search for ‘missing sabungeros’</a></div><div> </div>

<p>The Philippine National Police on Friday morning said the statements of whistleblower Julie Patidongan and his arrested brothers will be used to strengthen the charges filed against the alleged masterminds behind the disappearances of dozens of cockfighting enthusiasts.</p>

The Philippine National Police on Friday morning said the statements of whistleblower Julie Patidongan and his arrested brothers will be used to strengthen the charges filed against the alleged masterminds behind the disappearances of dozens of cockfighting enthusiasts.