FILE PHOTO: Atong Ang. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — Businessman Atong Ang will be summoned to the next hearing of a Senate inquiry into the disappearance of at least 31 “sabungeros” or cockfight enthusiasts, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said Friday.
“We are going to conduct another hearing next week, wherein iimbitahan na natin lahat nung mga nababanggit doon na hindi natin naimbitahan last meeting, pati si Atong Ang, iimbitahan natin,” Dela Rosa, chairman of the Senate public order and dangerous drugs committee, said in an online press conference.
“Siya ang may-ari nitong tatlong arena kung saan nawawala ‘yung mga tao,” he added. “Baka today imbitahan siya, padalhan ng subpoena.”
Ang’s name was mentioned during the first hearing on Thursday, February 24. A sister of one of the missing persons cited a video where the businessman was seen “warning” what he called as “double agents” in his employ who are allegedly stealing videos from his e-sabong firm Lucky 8 Star Quest Inc. and posting these on a copied website to solicit bets illegally.
READ: Atong Ang’s name surfaces during Senate probe into missing ‘sabungeros’
But lawyer Angelo Niño Santos, president of Lucky 8 Star Quest Inc., denied during the hearing that the company resorts to any “illegal activities” in dealing with errant personnel.
Santos maintained Ang’s video was only a reminder and “not a threat.”
Asked whether Ang can be considered a suspect in the disappearances of sabungeros, Dela Rosa told reporters: “From top to bottom diyan sa e-sabong na ‘yan ay pwedeng maging suspect.”
“But still we need factual evidence para madiin siya pero ito e circumstantial na evidence na pwedeng magamit natin,” he added.
According to the senator, Ang was previously invited to the first hearing but “declined due to health reasons.”
He said Ang told the committee secretary that once his health condition stabilizes, he will attend succeeding hearings.
“So we’re expecting na maka-attend siya sa second hearing natin,” Dela Rosa said.
The Senate public order and dangerous drugs committee launched its investigation into the eight cases of disappearance involving 31 sabungeros or cockfight aficionados from April 2021 to January this year.
Members of the Senate panel agreed to issue a resolution calling to suspend e-sabong operations and licenses until the cases have been resolved.
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