BUSINESSMAN Charlie “Atong” Ang yesterday filed a criminal complaint against the suspect-turned-whistleblower who tagged him as the alleged mastermind in the disappearance and alleged killing of at least 34 “sabungeros” or cockfighting enthusiasts
Ang sued Julie “Dondon” Patidongan before the Mandaluyong Prosecutor’s Office for conspiracy to commit attempted robbery with violence and intimidation of persons, grave threats, grave coercion, slander, and incriminating an innocent persons.
Also named as respondent was one Alan “Brown” Bantiles. Both Patidongan and Bantiles formerly worked as Ang’s farm managers.
Ang, who was accompanied by his lawyer, Lorna Patajo-Kapunan, filed the charges after Patidongan named him and three other individuals as the supposed brains behind the 2021-2022 abduction of more than 100 sabungeros, who were allegedly ordered kidnapped and killed for cheating in cockfighting games.
Patidongan has earlier came out as “alias Totoy.”
Ang denied the allegation and turned the table on Patidongan, whom he said had attempted to extort P300 million from him in exchange for not dragging him to the case.
“I categorically state that these accusations are entirely false and without basis. Neither I nor any member of any family or organization had any participation in, nor knowledge of, any such illegal acts,” he said.
In the complaint, Ang claimed Brown called him in February and allegedly told him to pay P300 million to Patidongan, or else the latter would implicate him in the missing sabungeros case.
He said Brown repeatedly called him about the money.
In June, he said he was informed that Patidongan had executed a sworn affidavit to the PNP and implicated him in the case.
He got another call from Brown on June 22, and this time, the phone was supposedly passed to Patidongan who reportedly told him he would keep silent about the matter if he pays them the P300 million.
Brown also supposedly told him that that he has contacted a lawyer to prepare an affidavit of recantation, which Patidongan will allegedly sign once they get the money.
Ang said he declined the demands, which could have prompted Patidongan to come out in public about his allegations.
Kapunan, for her part, questioned the credibility of Patidongan, saying that he is a criminal suspect.
“He(Dondon) has three (3) criminal cases. He started at a security company and he was removed for sexual harassment,” she said.
She also said Patidongan is also allegedly facing murder and frustrated murder charges before two courts in Rizal.
Ang said he is more than willing to cooperate with authorities in the investigation of the case.
