Jamaine Punzalan

Family members of the missing sabungeros call for justice during a media conference in Quezon City on July 14, 2025. The group accuse business tycoon Charlie "Atong" Ang of being the mastermind behind the disappearance of the sabungeros, who may be the individuals whose remains were found submerged in Taal Lake. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Families of Missing Sabungeros call for Justice

Jeff Caparas

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — A lawyer representing one of the police officers accused in the disappearance of &quot;sabungeros&quot; or cockfighting enthusiasts called on the Philippine National Police to release affidavits from 12 alleged former employees of whistleblower Julie Patidongan.Bernardo Vitriolo, lawyer of PSMS. Joey Encarnacion, claimed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) failed to submit the affidavits to the Department of Justice (DOJ), even though they could have helped present a more balanced view of the case.“Wala po akong hawak na affidavits. Kasi nga kaya nga natin hinihingi sa CIDG na bigyan tayo ng kopya ng affidavits na ito dahil po napakakritikal at crucial sa imbestigasyon ng DOJ para kumpleto po yung kanilang assessment at evaluation,” said Vitriolo.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/8/12/mom-of-missing-sabungero-hopes-dna-matches-human-bones-found-in-taal-lake-1236">Mom of missing sabungero hopes DNA matches human bones found in Taal Lake</a></div>He said he wrote to the CIDG requesting the release of the documents and warned that legal action could be taken if they fail to comply.“Noong pong August 5, sumulat po ako sa CIDG kay Brigadier General Christopher Abrahano... Hanggang ngayon po, wala pa po tayong nare-receive na tugon dito. At kaya po kami naaalarma kasi po tila bagang parang may suppression of evidence dito na nangyayari,” he added.Vitriolo said the 12 individuals went to the CIDG headquarters in Camp Crame on July 17 to execute sworn statements. The affidavits allegedly pointed to Patidongan and his siblings as the supposed masterminds behind the abduction and disappearance of the “sabungeros.”According to the lawyer, the statements included claims that Ilakim Patidongan allegedly withdrew money from an ATM account belonging to one of the missing victims, while Jose Patidongan was reportedly seen escorting another victim.Vitriolo accused the CIDG of deliberately withholding the affidavits from the DOJ, saying they could have shed light on another side of the story.“Napaka-crucial po ito dahil papaano kayo magde-determine ang DOJ ng reasonable certainty of conviction at prima facie evidence kung kulang &#x27;yung mga binabasa nila o &#x27;yung mga naka-submit sa kanila, kulang. Affidavit lang ng mga Patidongan. So, kulang &#x27;yun kasi one-sided &#x27;yan, sigurado fabricated &#x27;yan... Kailangan mabasa ng DOJ &#x27;yung kabuuan ng istorya,” he said.“Para sa akin po, intentional po &#x27;yun. Kasi po, kung hindi intentional, dapat nailabas na &#x27;yun dahil makakatulong po &#x27;yun. Gusto natin malaman ang katotohanan, ang buong katotohanan, hindi one-sided or isang kwento lang. Gusto natin &#x27;yung kwento ng magkabila ay makita, malaman natin. Kung kung hindi ito ilalabas, meron pong sadyang pang-iipit,” he added.<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>Vitriolo denied allegations that his client owned a fishpond where missing cockfight enthusiasts were allegedly dumped, insisting there is no evidence tying him to the case.He said certifications from the local governments of Laurel and Talisay, as well as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, prove that Encarnacion has no ownership of any such property. He also pointed out that during the period cited by witness Julie Patidongan, alias “Dondon,” his client was in training.“From May to November, nasa schooling po yung aking client… confined sa Camp Vicente Lim, sa National Forensic Training Institute,” said Vitriolo.“Meron po siyang attendance sheet, pirmado po lahat, authenticated po lahat. Kaya hindi po siya maaring ma-involve dito,” he added.He added that Encarnacion has no personal ties to businessman Atong Ang, other than having crossed paths in intelligence work years ago.“Wala siyang pag-aari. Hindi po niya kilala personal si Mr. Atong Ang… at one time in their career, magkasama sila sa mga intelligence units, pero wala po siyang personal na engagement,” said Vitriolo.The case of the missing sabungeros has been ongoing since early 2022, with several policemen implicated.The CIDG has yet to respond to ABS-CBN News&#x27; request for comment as of this posting. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice said the call for release of the affidavits makes the situation “quite awkward.”“Even if the CIDG did submit the affidavits to this Department, it would not be given a lot of weight especially because it is being offered by no less than the defense team,” DOJ Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said.    “The situation is quite awkward, even for the respondents,” he said in a statement.<div>RELATED VIDEO:</div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8ImNWTxslLo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>

A lawyer representing one of the police officers accused in the disappearance of several “sabungeros” called on the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) to release affidavits from 12 alleged former employees of whistleblower Julie Patidongan.

A lawyer representing one of the police officers accused in the disappearance of several “sabungeros” called on the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) to release affidavits from 12 alleged former employees of whistleblower Julie Patidongan.

Lawyer urges CIDG to release affidavits in missing 'sabungeros' case

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Lawyer urges CIDG to release affidavits in missing 'sabungeros' case

Jeff Caparas,

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 13, 2025 02:39 PM PHT

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Updated August 13, 2025 03:10 PM PHT

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