03-07-2025
Ang: Patidiongan asked for P300M so I won't be dragged in sabungero case
Julie "Dondon" Patidongan asked for P300 million from Charlie "Atong Ang" in exchange for sparing him from the case he and some co-accused have been facing in connection with the disappearance of cockfight enthusiasts from 2021 to 2022, the businessman said on Thursday.
According to John Consulta's report on "24 Oras," Ang denied offering to bribe Patidongan with the same huge amount of money.
'Hinihingan ako ng P300 million para huwag daw akong idamay sa kaso nila. Sila ang may kaso, hindi naman ako,' Ang said.
'Para maayos daw yan, bigyan ko raw sila ng P300 million. Kaya namura ko, doon nagsimula,' he added.
(They asked for P300 million so that I won't be dragged into their case. They were the ones who had been charged. There was no case against me. For the matter to be settled, they asked for P300 million. I cursed and that's when it all started.)
Ang said Patidongan had been plotting to abduct and kill him.
'Kasi ang nakapaligid sa akin, mga tao niya eh. Nu'ng time na 'yun, nagtitiwala ako sa kanya. Ang napag-usapan doon, kikidnapin ako, patutubos ako at saka papatayin ako,' Ang said.
(Those around me are his people. I trusted him at that time. There was talk that I'd be kidnapped for ransom and that I'd be killed.)
Patidongan, one of the accused in the abduction of the missing sabungeros, told GMA Integrated News on Wednesday that Ang was the mastermind behind the abduction of the cockfight watchers, who were abducted from 2021 to 2022. He said more than 100 were killed after being taken away.
He said that Ang asked him to sign an affidavit to recant his statements in exchange for P300 million. But he said that he refused to accept any money from Ang.
Ang denied the allegations by Patidongan as he filed complaints against him and a certain Alan Bantiles at the Mandaluyong Prosecutor's Office.
'Wala kami kinalaman. Lahat sa grupo namin mga disente yan. Ang hilig namin sabong lang,' Ang said.
'Tingnan niyo pagkatao ko, pagkatao naming lahat. Wala naman kaming history ng pumapatay ng tao,' he added.
(We were not involved. All of us in our group are law-abiding. Cockfighting is our only interest. Look at my background and at all of us. We don't have a history of killing people.)
Ang's camp said an affidavit of recantation was prepared after Patidongan asked for the P300 million in a meeting with Pitmaster Foundation's executive director, Carol Cruz, on June 12.
'Sabihin daw para makumbinse ko siya na magbigay na lang ng 300. Kung may discount man, bahala na sila mag usap, yung 30 million, bahala sila. Subject to their mutual terms,' Cruz said.
The P300 million was meant for Patidongan to leave and hide with his family.
Sought for comment, Patidongan reiterated that it was Ang's camp who came to him and offered him P300 million in exchange for withdrawing his statements.
'Parang binaligtad niya ang lahat. Sinabihan ako, 'Dondon tanggapin mo na yan. Bawiin mo lahat ng sinasabi mo at mag abroad ka na lang', yun ang pagkasabi sa akin. Hindi ako nanghingi,' he told Emil Sumangil in an exclusive interview.
(It appears he's countering everything. He told me, 'Dondon, just accept the charges. Take back everything you said and go abroad.' That's what he told me. I didn't ask.)
He also denied Ang's allegations that he tried to kidnap the businessman.
Further, Patidongan alleged that one of the six guards that was charged for the disappearances of the cockfight enthusiasts in Manila in 2021 was supposedly a relative of Ang.
But he claimed that Ang asked him to take on the charge instead. However, Ang abandoned him in the case.
'Naki-usap siya sa akin, 'Don, tutal marunong ka naman sumagot, palit na lang kayo, kasi itong si... battery na lang ang nagpapagana, may opera na 'yan,' said Patidongan.
(He told me, 'Don, you know how to answer. Just take the rap for... He's running on a battery. He has undergone surgery.)
Patidongan also said that the charges for murder and robbery filed against him by Ang were baseless.
GMA Integrated News is trying to reach out to Ang for comment.
GMA Integrated News first reported Patidongan's statements on Wednesday. This was after Ang's camp announced that it would file charges against him, which was also reported by the network.
Contrary to Ang's claims that there were no efforts to get his side, GMA Integrated News also sought his comment on Patidongan's statements through his lawyer.
His camp's reaction was immediately reported in the succeeding newscasts after '24 Oras' and on other platforms of GMA Integrated News. –Vince Angelo Ferreras/NB, GMA Integrated News
