FAMILIES of the missing sabungeros (cockfight enthusiasts) trooped to the National Police Commission (Napolcom) Wednesday to report that most of the complainants were allegedly 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.
Initially, there were 34 cases, but only five families were left fighting for justice. According to a complainant, 18 families were no longer appearing in hearings after striking a deal with Caroline Cruz, Ang’s legal counsel, who has been negotiating with the families on her client’s behalf.
“In our case in Sta. Cruz, Laguna, victims’ families were gradually not attending anymore. Only a few of us are attending, and we are wondering what happened to them and why they are not attending anymore,” Diane Loyola, whose husband Ferdinand Dizon disappeared in Sta. Cruz, Laguna in 2022, said in a briefing.
“They said that they already talked to all of the families, that's why they were no longer attending. For the price of P40,000 a month, they agreed not to attend the hearing," Loyola said.
According to Loyola, Cruz attempted to talk to her because Ang’s camp would like to provide “financial assistance” to the families of the missing sabungeros.
She added that the promise was an initial amount given as a form of apology for the “hassles” of the case and, if they agree, a monthly provision of P20,000 given every 15th and 30th of the month totaling P40,000 per month.
Quoting Cruz’s supposed statement, Loyola said the non-participation of the families will weaken the case against Ang. Thereafter, Ang will show up and a big amount will be given to all families.
