Actress Gretchen Barretto personally filed on Thursday her counter-affidavit in relation to her alleged involvement in the case of missing ‘sabungeros’ (cockfighting enthusiasts).
In an interview with justice reporters, lawyer Alma Mallonga, Barretto’s counsel, noted that they are seeking the dismissal of the complaint filed against her.
“The purpose of a preliminary investigation is to shield the innocent from harassment, from all the hardships of a public trial, so not everyone who has a preliminary investigation is charged… Basically, there is no proof. These are mere allegations as admitted by the PNP itself in its endorsement letter. Mr. Patidongan himself makes that statement without any substantiation,” the lawyer said.
Mallonga explained that the only basis of the complaint is the statements of e-sabong whistleblower Alyas “Totoy”—identified as Julie “Dondon” Patidongan. She added that said statements were unsubstantiated and not credible.
Likewise, none of the elements of the crime can possibly have been proven by this mere allegation stressing that there is no evidence in this case, according to Baretto’s legal counsel.
“As a matter of law, even if what he (Patidongan) says is true, Ms. Barretto will not incur any criminal liability anymore… Absent any showing that there was a participation in the commission does not give rise to criminal liability,” said Mallonga.
Meanwhile, some relatives of the missing ‘sabungeros’ present during the preliminary investigation insisted that their complaints shall proceed despite other relatives who opted for settlement.
“I hope those who have settled this matter will not stop us from seeking justice because this is our chance to have justice and find out who the real mastermind is,” said Carmelita Lasco, mother of Ricardo “Jon” Lasco.
The camp of gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang also denied their involvement in the alleged settlement.
“In reality, in that case, whoever had the motive to settle that case should be the accused. That is none other than Julie Patidongan,” said lawyer Gabriel Villareal, Ang’s counsel.
He noted that Patidongan’s goal is to get his bail request and application to become a state witness approved.
Villareal assured that his client will personally appear in the next hearings to swear his counter-affidavit which was not completed due to the volume of papers sent to them.
Other personalities present during the preliminary investigation include former NCRPO Chief Jonnel Estomo, as well as Elakim and Jose Patidongan, siblings of Julie.
