ACTRESS Gretchen Barreto yesterday filed her counter-affidavit as she appeared before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the murder charges filed against related to the missing “sabungeros” (cockfighting enthusiasts).
Barreto was accompanied by her lawyer Alma Mallonga.
Retired police general Jonnel Estomo also attended the preliminary hearing.
In an interview after the hearing, Mallonga expressed confidence that the charges against Barreto will be dismissed.
“Based on what we have been saying from the very beginning that we feel that the accusations against her are unsubstantiated, incredible, and there’s every basis for the complaint to be dismissed,” she said, as she assured the panel that her client will participate in every aspect of the hearing.
Barreto was named as respondent in the multiple murders, serious physical detention, direct bribery and obstruction of justice complaint filed by relatives of the sabungeros, who have been missing since 2021.
The other respondents are business tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang, Estomo, and other police officers.
Ang, Barreto, Estomo and the other accused were tagged by suspect-turned-whistleblower Julie “Totoy” Patidongan in the abduction and supposed killing of the cockfighting enthusiasts.
Patidongan has alleged that Ang ordered the abduction and killing of the sabungeros after they were caught cheating in e-sabong and physical cockfighting games.
He claimed that the sabungeros have been killed and their remains dumped in Taal Lake.
Ang was a no-show in the preliminary hearing. He was represented by his counsel, lawyer Gabriel Villareal.
“Gretchen submitted her counter-affidavit. She is the only one as I can recall that submitted her counter-affidavit today,” Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Charlie Guhit told reporters in Filipino after the hearing.
The DOJ has placed Ang and the rest of the respondents under an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) for authorities to be able to monitor their possible travels abroad.
An ILBO, however, will not prevent an individual from leaving the country as it is only meant to alert authorities that he or she is leaving, the purpose of travel and the destination.
Only a preventive hold departure order issued by the court can prevent an individual from leaving the country.
Sulit said most of the respondents have asked for additional time to submit their response to the case.
The DOJ panel will hold its next preliminary hearings on September 29 and October 13.
Sulit said they have also directed the PNP to submit additional evidence on or before September 29, such as
“copies of the USB” that supposedly contains proof against the respondents in the case.
He said that once the PNP complies with its order, the panel would direct the respondents to submit their counter-affidavits.
“We will wait for the submission of all the parties then we will submit the case for resolution,” Sulit said.
