DOJ issues lookout order against Atong Ang, Gretchen Barretto over missing sabungeros case
The Department of Justice has issued an immigration lookout order against businessman Atong Ang, actress Gretchen Barretto, and their co-accused in the missing sabungeros case.
According to a report by The Philippine STAR, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) was issued on Friday, Aug. 29 against Ang, Barretto, retired Lt. Gen. Jonnel Estomo, and more than 50 others mentioned by whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan, or alias "Totoy."
“Mayroon na naman tayong lookout bulletin sa lahat. It’s already there," Remulla is quoted as saying. "Mga binanggit ni Patidongan—we have issued lookout bulletins already,” he added.
The ILBO is part of the DOJ's investigation into murder and illegal detention charges linked to the missing cockfight enthusiasts. The Bureau of Immigration will monitor their domestic and international travels, but will not necessarily be barred from departure.
At the same briefing, Prosecutor-General Richard Anthony Fadullon said the DOJ had completed evaluating the complaint from relatives of the missing sabungeros, and they have found enough basis to move forward with a formal investigation.
He added that the DOJ Panel of Prosecutors can request for issuance of a Precautionary Hold Departure Order from a court to prevent persons under investigation from leaving the country once the preliminary investigation starts.
Missing sabungeros case
Patidongan tagged Ang and Barretto as among the persons allegedly behind the abductions of missing sabungeros. He accused them, as well as Eric Dela Rosa and Celso Salazar, of being the masterminds in the case of not just 34 but over 100 missing sabungeros.
Patidongan, who said he had been working for Ang for 15 years as the chief of security of his farms and cockfight areas, alleged that Ang is the pit master's chairman. "Siya ang mastermind, at siya ang nag-uutos na talagang iligpit ang mga 'yan," he said in his interview with GMA's 24 Oras.
While he's one of the accused in the case, Patidongan asserted that he was merely following orders from Ang.
He also claimed that Barretto was fully aware of Ang's operations in the cockfight arena.
Ang has denied Patidongan's accusations and filed cases against him and another whistleblower, Alan Bantiles, also known as "Brown," who had also tagged him in the case.
Barretto, through her legal counsel, also denied involvement in the case, noting she "has no relevant knowledge" about the disappearances.
Ang and others are now facing murder and serious illegal detention raps in light of the missing sabungeros case. Ryan Bautista, the brother of missing sabungero Michael Bautista, was with the Philippine National Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, when they filed the complaint before the DOJ on Aug. 1.
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., in his fourth State of the Nation Address, assured the public that the government is working to solve the case of the missing sabungeros.
