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Palace on ‘missing sabungeros probe: ‘Walang sisinuhin ang Pangulo, administrasyon’
Palace on ‘missing sabungeros probe: ‘Walang sisinuhin ang Pangulo, administrasyon’
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Palace on ‘missing sabungeros probe: ‘Walang sisinuhin ang Pangulo, administrasyon’
by Mika Jenymae Rasing03 July 2025
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro during a press briefing on Thursday, July 3, 2025. Screengrab from RTVM/YT.

The administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will spare no one in the investigation of the missing sabungeros, Palace Press Officer and Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said during a press briefing.

During a press briefing on Thursday, July 3, Castro was asked about recent developments or directives from the President on the investigation concerning the missing sabungeros. This came after Julie “Dondon” Patidongan or alias “Totoy,” linked high-profile personalities—like business tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang, Gretchen Barretto, several police personnel, and some government officials—to the disappearance of the missing sabungeros.

According to Castro, the President has yet to inform them of new directives, but assured that the Marcos administration will spare no one.

“Ito naman po ay trabaho po ng [Department of Justice] DOJ at ng ibang law enforcement agencies po natin. Sino man, anumang katayuan sa buhay, kung sila ay personalidad na kinikilala, wala pong sisinuhin ang Pangulo at ang administrasyon,” she explained.

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“Kung may dapat na mapanagutan, dapat lamang po maimbestigahan ng mabuti para mabigyan ng hustisya ang mga pamilya ng sinasabi nating missing sabungeros,” she added.

In terms of considering Patidongan as a state witness, Castro clarified that it would still depend on the DOJ’s findings, as they must evaluate other witness testimonies.

“Depende po ‘to sa makikita ng DOJ, [dahil] ieevaluate ang testimony niya at kung sino pa yung mga mga witnesses na pwedeng gawing state witness, depende po ‘yan sa kanilang katapangan, sa katotohanan ng sasabihin nila, at yung pagkakataon na mag-recant sila ng kanilang mga testimony,” she explained.

“So, dapat nandodoon yung tapang at yung paninidigan na sabihin yung katotohanan,” she added.

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Ang filed multiple criminal complaints on Thursday against Patidongan and Alan Bantiles, alias “Brown,” before the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor’s Office, accusing them of attempted robbery with violence and intimidation, grave threat, grave coercion, incriminating innocent persons, and slander.

Patidongan had previously tagged Ang as a mastermind behind the disappearances and killings of over 100 cockfighting enthusiasts in 2021. Moreover, he alleged that Barretto was involved with the disposal of the victims’ bodies in Taal Lake.

During the press briefing, a reporter asked whether Marcos had any ties to Patidongan, citing that the latter previously ran for a mayoral position in Barobo, Surigao del Sur, under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP)—a national political party chaired by the President.

“Sa ngayon wala pa pong nakakarating sa atin patungkol sa ganyang isyu…ipaparating po natin sa Pangulo para maging aware din po siya,” Castro responded.

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Ang alleged that he had given Patidongan P12 million to support his mayoral bid in the Municipality of Barobo.

Consequently, DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla confirmed the same day that Ang and Barretto are now under investigation, including over 20 more individuals.

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