The Department of Justice (DOJ) has placed gambling tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang, actress Gretchen Barretto, retired police general Jonnel Estomo, and more than 50 others under an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) as part of the ongoing probe into the disappearance and alleged murder of missing cockfight enthusiasts or sabungeros.
Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla confirmed the issuance, saying: “We already have lookout bulletin for all of them. It’s already there. All those mentioned by Patidongan have been issued lookout bulletins already.” He was referring to whistleblower Julie “Don-Don” Patidongan, also known as “Totoy,” whose sworn affidavit became a central piece of evidence for families of the missing victims in filing murder and illegal detention complaints.
Patidongan has earlier alleged that Ang masterminded the killings of more than 100 sabungeros, claiming they were strangled after being accused of cheating in cockfights, with their bodies dumped in Taal Lake. He also implicated Barretto and other individuals linked to Ang’s so-called “Alpha Group.”
According to DOJ Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon, the evaluation of the complaints has been completed and the case is moving forward: “The evaluation stage has been terminated and we will now proceed with the preliminary investigation. Probably by next week we can issue the subpoena already.”
An ILBO requires the Bureau of Immigration to closely monitor local and international travel of those under investigation. Fadullon added that prosecutors may later ask the court for a Precautionary Hold Departure Order if necessary to keep the respondents from leaving the Philippines.
Patidongan remains under the DOJ’s witness protection program while formal hearings on the high-profile case are expected to begin soon.
