Other licensees of online cockfighting or “e-sabong” operations are ganging up on Charlie “Atong” Ang, the gaming tycoon said Friday, as he claimed his rivals are conspiring to knock him off his perch as the owner of the top company in the multibillion-peso industry.
In a Senate hearing, Ang also requested for an executive session with the members of the committee led by Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to reveal “vital information” on the case of the 31 missing cockfight enthusiasts or “sabungeros” which the panel was investigating.
Ang cried foul over the alleged “trial by publicity” against him as his firm, Lucky 8 Star Quest Inc., was supposedly being singled out by the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs.
“It’s like you are saying Lucky 8 is guilty. Trial by publicity. I will prove to you that there’s a conspiracy here. We have nothing to do with that (sabungeros’ disappearance), and I will prove the conspiracy to you,” he said during the panel’s second hearing
Ang said the conspirators includes a former national police chief and former and incumbent congressmen, who combined only have a 10-percent share of the estimated P50-billion industry.
“Who owns Lucky 8? I do. Who owns another company there? The biggest, the longest (tenured) gaming or gambling lord in the Philippines. You all know who that is. He’s been around for more than 30 years. In fact, he says he always has the President in hand,” he added.
Dela Rosa denied the Senate panel was singling out Lucky 8 Star Quest Inc., then pressed Ang to name the other e-sabong stakeholders he was referring to.
Ang responded, saying it was a certain “Pineda” and also mentioned some former and incumbent lawmakers allegedly involved in e-sabong operations.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon asked Ang to state on record the other licensees of e-sabong, a move seconded by Dela Rosa.
Ang then mentioned names: “Six of us know each other. Number 1 is me, Number 2, Bong Pineda. Number 3, Rep. Teves. Number 4, I don’t know their companies, but they are owned by ex-congressman Patrick Antonio. Number 5 is under Mayor Elan. Number 6 is under General Cascolan, class ’86.”
“If you can look at the conspiracy here, you can see how this fight is developing. After all, my life is at stake here… It’s going toward a scenario that they want—because 90 percent of the income of ‘sabong’ operations, 90 to 95 (percent) is by us. All of my members across the Philippines are big-time sabungeros because they know we run a legit, orderly (operation), as they see our purpose for this, which is not just to make money,” Ang added.