Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

PNP–Scene of the Crime Operatives (PNP-SOCO) carry a white sack containing a suspected cadaver during the week-long search operations in Laurel, Batangas, on Thursday, July 17, 2025. The retrieval is part of the ongoing investigation into the case of a missing sabungero. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

MISSING SABUNGEROS- TAAL SEARCH

Adrian Ayalin

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/175913034774520250717-taal-missing-sabungero-soco-MT2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">PNP–Scene of the Crime Operatives (PNP-SOCO) carry a white sack containing a suspected cadaver during the week-long search operations in Laurel, Batangas, on Thursday, July 17, 2025. The retrieval is part of the ongoing investigation into the case of a missing sabungero. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police submitted 5 flash drives to the panel of prosecutors conducting a preliminary investigation on the missing sabungeros at the Department of Justice. </p><p>The investigation is in connection with the murder and kidnapping with serious illegal detention complaints filed by the PNP and the families of the missing sabungeros against Charlie “Atong” Ang, Gretchen Barretto and other individuals. </p><p>“In fact, the panel allowed the same to be viewed during the hearing, I will not anymore disclose the contents of the USB because that will be part of the resolution of the case of this preliminary investigation,” said prosecutor Charlie Guhit.</p><p>Acting chief PNP Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the files would “help establish accountability and aid in the identification of those responsible.”</p><p>“We assure the families of the missing sabungeros that the PNP remains fully committed to pursuing this case until justice is achieved. We recognize their long and painful wait for answers, and we continue to exert all efforts to bring closure. This includes exhausting all leads, providing evidence to the DOJ, and ensuring that no angle is left unchecked,” Nartatez said.</p><p>The cases stemmed from the statements of whistleblower Julie Patidongan who said the missing sabungeros were killed and buried in Taal Lake.</p><p>Ang and Barretto have denied involvement in the case.</p><p>The PNP also submitted additional affidavits from its witnesses such as Gleer Codilla, one of the respondents in the missing sabungeros cases pending before the Manila Regional Trial Court. </p><p>The next hearing is scheduled on November 3 where the respondents like Ang are expected to face the panel of prosecutors. </p><p>“Sa November 3 po ay malamang nandito si Mr. Atong Ang kasi iyon ang nire-require ng ating panel of prosecutors,” said Ang’s lawyer Gabriel Villareal.</p><div><strong>— With a report from Karen De Guzman, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS: </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/NJM6hVeODoM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><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/PlKmsNt8Ot4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The PNP-CIDG submitted 5 flash drives to the DOJ panel of prosecutors conducting a preliminary investigation on the missing sabungeros case.</p>

The PNP-CIDG submitted 5 flash drives to the DOJ panel of prosecutors conducting a preliminary investigation on the missing sabungeros case.

PNP submits more files, documents on missing sabungeros case

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PNP submits more files, documents on missing sabungeros case

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 29, 2025 03:22 PM PHT

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Updated September 30, 2025 02:11 PM PHT

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missing sabungeros

DOJ

crime

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