The camp of gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang will challenge the Department of Justice (DOJ) resolution that found prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction in connection with the disappearance of several “sabungeros” or cockfighting enthusiasts.
Ang’s counsel, lawyer Gabriel L. Villareal, told Manila Standard on Wednesday that the DOJ decision is “deeply flawed and grossly unfair to the accused,” claiming prosecutors relied heavily on a lone witness with “irreversibly compromised integrity.”
He said the case is currently under legal study as they prepare their next move.
Villareal pointed to what he called “clear factual gaps and substantial inconsistencies” in the DOJ panel’s ruling, saying the resolution shows apparent bias.
The DOJ on Tuesday found enough evidence to indict 22 respondents — most of them police officers — for 10 counts of kidnapping with homicide. It also recommended 16 counts of kidnapping with serious illegal detention against Ang and nine others.
He added that the DOJ’s decision not to pursue charges against the majority of those originally implicated “proves the spurious nature of Patidongan’s account.” Julie “Dondon” Patidongan — the e-sabong whistleblower formerly known publicly as Alyas “Totoy” — had linked Ang to the alleged abductions.
Villareal called on the DOJ to instruct the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to reinvestigate the case due to “serious questions” on evidence handling.
Meanwhile, Malacañang said the administration expects the filing of charges in the case to proceed strictly based on evidence and dismissed concerns that Ang may receive special treatment.
PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro stressed that the President has repeatedly said cases must be built on solid proof to protect innocent people from being wrongfully implicated.
