PCSO Chairman Felix Reyes denies allegations of fixing cases for Atong Ang
Retired Regional Trial Court judge and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Chairperson Felix Reyes has denied allegations that he fixed cases for businessman Atong Ang in relation to the abductions of missing cockfighters.
As per a 24 Oras report, Dondon Patidongan, alias "Totoy," said that a former judge helped Ang and five others to be acquitted in one case concerning the disappearance of the sabungeros. Patidongan also alleged that Reyes traveled abroad with prosecutors and judges to supposedly bribe them, according to ABS-CBN News.
"I categorically deny such wild accusations of Mr. Patidongan, I dare him to identify any specific case of Mr. Atong Ang or anything related to the Sabungero Case, which I understand is still pending in court, that I fixed or settled to the advantage of Mr. Ang," Reyes said in a statement.
"If Mr. Patidongan cannot substantiate his accusation of case-fixing, I ask him to shut up."
The PCSO chairman also authorized the Bureau of Immigration to disclose his travel from Oct. 1 to present "to dispel any notion of travels abroad with prosecutors and judges."
Additionally, Reyes called the timing of Patidongan's accusations "a rare coincidence" as it came out a day after he submitted his application to be the next ombudsman.
He also said he is "ready and willing to cooperate" in any investigation on Patidongan's allegations.
Ang, Barretto tagged in missing sabungeros case
On July 2, Patidongan accused Ang of being the chairman of the pit master, and said that actress Gretchen Barretto was fully aware of the businessman's operations in the cockfight arena as they were always together.
"Siya (Ang) ang mastermind, at siya ang nag-uutos na talagang iligpit ang mga 'yan," he said, adding that the police would go to the cockfight arena to take away the victims who allegedly cheated
Eric Dela Rosa and Celso Salazar were also tagged by the whistleblower in the case.
Following Patidongan's accusations, Ang, on July 3, filed formal complaints against the former as well as another whistleblower, Alan Bantiles, alias "Brown," who tagged him in the case.
Ang and Barretto have denied their involvement in the case.