Fugitive tycoon Atong Ang has asked the Department of Justice to exclude him from the Manila Arena case involving missing sabungeros. His lawyer contested the affidavit of whistleblower Julie Patidongan, who now claims Ang masterminded the abduction of one victim.
On Monday, March 23, Atong Ang's lawyer Gabriel Villareal told reporters he contested Julie Patidongan's affidavit on the last day of the reinvestigation at the Department of Justice. Villareal said Patidongan recanted prior statements denying knowledge of or involvement in the abduction of John Claude Inonog and other cockfight enthusiasts missing from Manila Arena. Patidongan now claims Atong Ang masterminded Inonog's abduction, according to Villareal's message to Philstar.com. The case is pending at the Manila Regional Trial Court. DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez explained that the Philippine National Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group reopened the probe to identify 'John Does' for formal charges. He noted the reopened preliminary investigation runs alongside the trial without affecting evidence against named accused. Villareal said he has no information on Ang's whereabouts but believes Ang will face charges after exhausting legal remedies. NBI chief Melvin Matibag stated they are validating reports on Ang's location, with some saying he is abroad and others claiming he is in the country: 'Tinitingnan pa namin. May nagsasabing nasa labas ng bansa; may nagsasabing nandito.' Courts in Sta. Cruz, Laguna; Lipa, Batangas; and San Pablo City, Laguna, have issued arrest warrants against Ang.
