President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will not shield anyone — no matter how prominent — in the search for truth and accountability surrounding the disappearance of more than two dozen cockfighting enthusiasts, Malacañang stressed on Thursday.
This comes in the wake of bombshell revelations made by Julie Dondon “Totoy” Patidongan, who in an interview with GMA News accused businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang and actress Gretchen Barretto of masterminding the abductions. Totoy previously claimed that the victims, suspected of cheating in online cockfighting, were kidnapped and killed — their bodies weighted down with sandbags before being dumped in Taal Lake to keep them hidden.
“If there is accountability to be faced, then a thorough investigation must be conducted to give justice to the families of the so-called missing sabungeros,” said Presidential Communications Office official Claire Castro. “Anyone, regardless of their status in life — even well-known personalities — will not be spared by the President and the administration.”
The Department of Justice is still evaluating whether Totoy will be granted state witness status, pending the credibility of his testimony.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier raised alarm over the alleged mastermind’s immense financial clout, suggesting its influence could reach even the judiciary. This claim also stemmed from Totoy’s disclosures.
The Philippine National Police said the disappearances took place between April 2021 and January 2022 and involved individuals linked to e-sabong, the now-banned online cockfighting platform once regulated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.
