MANILA, Philippines — Families of the missing sabungeros (cockfight enthusiasts) came to the National Police Commission (Napolcom) on Wednesday to report that most of the complainants were now under the monthly payroll of fugitive gambling tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang for P40,000 in exchange for their non-appearance in court hearings and dropping of cases against the alleged mastermind.
Of the 34 initial cases of missing sabungeros, five families were left fighting for justice. According to Diane Loyola, whose husband Ferdinand Dizon disappeared in Sta. Cruz, Laguna in 2022, 18 families were no longer appearing in Sta. Cruz hearings after striking a deal with lawyer Caroline Cruz, Ang’s legal counsel who, the families said, has been offering each one “financial assistance” guised as a foundation.
The victims presented the money used to bribe them. Loyola showed P30,000 cash, two other families showed envelopes of cash allegedly from Cruz.
Loyola said the promise was an initial amount given in the form of apologies for the “hassles” of the case and if they agreed, a monthly provision of P40,000 split into P20,000 every 15 and 30th.
“Lahat daw po ng pamilya ay nakausap na kaya po pala wala na mga umaattend. Sa halagang 40k a month pumayag po sila na hindi umattend ng hearing,” Loyola said.
(They said that they already talked to all of the families, that's why they were no longer attending. For the price of 40k a month, they agreed not to attend the hearing)," Loyola said.
Quoting Cruz’s supposed statement, Loyola said the non-participation of the families wwould weaken the case against Ang, who was expected to reappear to give a big amount to all families.
