Remulla: De la Rosa Senate panel ‘played with’ missing sabungeros case

MANILA, Philippines — For 43 months, the Department of Justice (DOJ) exhausted all efforts to create an airtight case against gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang over the missing sabungeros (cockfight enthusiasts) and the Senate panel under Sen. Ronald de la Rosa allegedly only “played with” it, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Saturday.

Speaking during his radio program over dzRH with other anchors, Remulla, who was justice secretary when the full-blown investigation on the sabungeros’ case was launched, acknowledged the “challenges” they faced.

This includes fewer families cooperating with the DOJ for possible settlements or compromise with the accused, he also said.

Authorities want to close in on Ang’s whereabouts after the regional trial courts of Sta. Cruz, Laguna and Lipa City, Batangas separately issued arrest warrants against him and his co-accused for kidnapping with homicide, among other crimes, in connection with the case of the missing sabungeros.

“Imagine, this arrest warrant for Atong Ang, we have worked for this for 43 months. Since I assumed [the DOJ leadership] under the Marcos administration, we already began our investigation into this,” Remulla said at the program, speaking with his fellow anchors.

READ: DOJ: Sabungeros case to proceed even if Atong Ang not yet arrested

He also acknowledged how almost “no one” would dare touch the case, considering the high-profile personalities involved, with Ang included, and led to it being a “cold case.”

Aside from that, Remulla also pointed out how the case of the missing sabungeros did not gain much traction even when the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, which was chaired by dela Rosa, opened an inquiry in 2022.

Remulla was apparently not satisfied with the results of the Senate inquiry.

“They just played with [this case] in the Senate, under [the committee] of Bato,” he said, referring to dela Rosa by his nickname.

Nevertheless, Remulla said the DOJ, under him, had to consider the “parens patriae” (parent of the country) principle, which means the state has to step in as guardian of its constituents despite some families no longer cooperating with authorities.

Months after Remulla left the DOJ, its prosecutors had recommended the filing of 10 counts of kidnapping with homicide against Ang and several others, in addition to 16 counts of kidnapping with serious illegal detention.

READ: Patidongan brothers turn state witnesses in ‘sabungeros’ case

State prosecutors used the accounts of the Patidongan brothers, who were designated as state witnesses in the case, in indicting Ang, several police officials and John Does.

Prosecutors mainly focused on the account of Julie Patidongan, who said that the sabungeros were abducted and strangled to death, with their bodies dumped in Taal Lake upon the orders of Ang.

“This is no longer a private crime, this is already a matter of public interest,” he said. “So, even if there were compromises, if we don’t seek justice, [the suspects] will just go on with their crimes, they’ll just kill and kill people.” /das