Senate panel invites e-sabong operators tagged by Atong Ang in ‘conspiracy’

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MANILA, Philippines — The Senate panel investigating the disappearance of over 30 cockfighting enthusiasts have invited other e-sabong operators tagged by businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang in an alleged “conspiracy” against him.

The Senate public order and dangerous drugs panel has already sent out invitations to the e-sabong licensees for the continuation of its investigation on Monday next week, committee chairman Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said Thursday.

“Para mabigyang linaw yung allegation ni Mr. Atong Ang na there is conspiracy to put him down. Magbigay sila ng linaw tungkol doon,” he told ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo in an interview.

(To shed light on the allegation of Mr. Atong Ang that there is conspiracy to put him down. They should clear that up.)

During the committee’s hearing last Mar. 4, Ang decried the “guilty verdict” on his online sabong firm, Lucky 8 Star Quest Inc., which operates three arenas where some of the missing cockfight enthusiasts were allegedly last seen.

He then blamed an alleged “conspiracy” against him supposedly involving his online sabong competitors.

“Anim kami na magkakakilala rito. Number 1, ako. Number 2, Bong Pineda. Number 3, Cong. Teves. Number 4, di ko kilala mga kumpanya nila eh, kay ex-congressman Patrick Antonio. Number 5 kina Mayor Elan. Number 6, kina Gen. Cascolan, class ’86,” Ang said.

(We are six. Number 1, me. Number 2 is Bong Pineda. Number 3 is Cong. Teves. Number 4, I don’t know the company, its owned by ex-congressman Patrick Antonio. Number 5 is Mayor Elan’s. Number 6 is Gen. Cascolan, class ’86.)

Suspension ‘out of the picture’

Aside from Ang’s allegations, the Senate panel will continue trying to shed light on who is responsible for the disappearance of the cockfighting enthusiasts, Dela Rosa said.

 “First and foremost, kailangang mapanagot natin yung sinong responsible dito [We need to hold accountable those responsible for this],” he added.

The committee will also look into what measures can be done to ensure the strict regulation of e-sabong since Malacañang already rejected senators’ call to suspend its operations until the case of the missing “sabungeros” has been resolved.

“Kung hindi talaga mapahinto yung e-sabong dahil part na ito ng kultura natin, i-regulate natin ng husto para hindi masisira ang kabuhayan ng maraming Pilipinong nasisiraa ng buhay dahil dito,” Dela Rosa said.

(If we can’t have e-sabong suspended since it’s part of our culture, we should strictly regulate this to prevent it from ruining the lives of Filipinos.)

“Yung suspension ay out of the picture, ‘di na po tayo magi-insist dahil inayawan na tayo ng Malacañang,” he added.

 (The suspension is out of the picture, we won’t insist anymore since we were rejected by Malacañang.)

 gsg