The camp of gaming business tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang is opposing the move to make his former farm manager, Julie Patidongan, also known as "Totoy," a state witness in the case involving the disappearance of several sabungeros or cockfighting enthusiasts.
Edniel Parrosa reported that according to Ang's legal counsel, Atty. Lorna Kapunan, Patidongan should not be considered the “least guilty” among the accused, noting his alleged criminal history, which includes cases of sexual harassment, frustrated murder, robbery with physical injury, and grave threat.
Kapunan also claimed that based on their background check, Patidongan allegedly maintained a private army to support illegal activities while managing farms in Batangas, Laguna, and Manila.
While Patidongan has linked Ang to the case of the missing sabungeros, the gaming tycoon distanced himself from the issue and insisted that his camp — including showbiz personality Gretchen Barretto — is not involved in any criminal activity.
Ang and Kapunan expressed their willingness to cooperate with the government in the ongoing investigation.
"Sana mabasa rin ng gobyerno and we will furnish them a copy, so that sundan nila 'yung mga leads — hindi lang isang lead lang na false pa and misleading. Huwag silang maniwala sa hearsay at defense ng isang whistleblower na alam natin, based on personal knowledge na siya ang nagdidistort," Kapunan said.
Ang described his group as "clean and not criminal," including Barretto, firmly denying the accusations made by Patidongan.
The gaming tycoon insisted that the former farm manager was merely tarnishing their reputation after being denied a demand for ₱300 million.
In fact, Ang claimed that he had already given ₱12 million to Patidongan when the latter ran for mayor of Barobo, Surigao del Sur.
Ang made this statement following the filing of charges against Patidongan and Alan Bantiles, a.k.a. "Brown," who allegedly acted as a middleman in the extortion attempt.
"I will not allow myself to be coerced or intimidated into paying an exorbitant amount of money in exchange for silence over a fabricated narrative. I have done nothing wrong, and I will not dignify their lies and extortion attempts with compliance," Ang stated in his complaint-affidavit, denying the whistleblower's claims linking him to the missing sabungeros.
Ang's camp filed the complaint before the Mandaluyong Prosecutor’s Office for the following charges: attempted robbery with violence and intimidation, grave threat, grave coercion, incriminating innocent persons, and slander, saying it was to protect their group.
Patidongan is among the six individuals previously arrested and charged in connection with the 2021 disappearance of the 34 sabungeros. In late June 2025, he appeared in a televised interview on a media network, where he accused Ang of being the mastermind behind the kidnappings and killings of the cockfighting enthusiasts.
It may also be recalled that Patidongan implicated Barretto, claiming she was involved in the disposal of the victims' bodies in Taal Lake with the assistance of certain police officers.
