The spokesperson of the Office of the Vice President Ruth Castelo said she remains friends with gambling tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang – who has been tagged as one of the masterminds in the case of the missing “sabungeros” – but their lawyer-client relationship ended in 2009.
“We remain friends, yes, but his own activities, his endeavors and businesses, I have nothing to do with it anymore,” Castelo said in a press conference yesterday where she was asked of her supposed connection to Ang.
She said Ang was her client in 2007 when the businessman was implicated in the plunder case filed against former President Joseph Estrada.
“He was given a two-year probation period. So in 2009, I released him from Bicutan where he stayed. He was released because he already complied with all the conditions set by the probation officer,” Castelo said.
“And as soon as he was released from Bicutan in 2009, that was the end of our lawyer-client relationship. I was never his lawyer again,” she added.
Ang was earlier accused by whistleblower Julie Patidongan of masterminding the disappearance and murder of several “sabungeros” who were allegedly involved in game-fixing.
Ang has since denied the accusation.
