MANILA, Philippines — Respondents in an obstruction of justice complaint linked to the missing sabungeros case denied the allegations against them on Friday, claiming instead that it was their accusers who allegedly sought to extort from businessman Charlie "Atong" Ang's camp.
In separate counter-affidavits submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday, Cristy Ladao and Jocelyn Dela Cruz denied claims that they accepted money from Ang's camp in exchange for abandoning their pursuit of justice.
The obstruction complaint, pending before the DOJ, was filed by relatives of the missing sabungeros, including Ma. Theresa Japag, against Ladao, Dela Cruz, lawyer Caroline Cruz and two other respondents.
The complaint stemmed from allegations that some relatives of the missing sabungeros were allegedly paid to withdraw or weaken their cases against Ang, who has been implicated by whistleblower Julie Patidongan in the disappearance and killing of the cockfighting enthusiasts. Ang has repeatedly denied the allegations, while authorities continue to investigate the claims.
Court records show that Dela Cruz's son, Johnver Francisco, a cockfighting enthusiast, disappeared on April 18, 2021. Francisco was the live-in partner of Ladao, and the couple has two children.
In their affidavits, Ladao and Dela Cruz acknowledged meeting with Cruz, one of Ang's lawyers, in March and April this year, but insisted the meetings were initiated by them in search of legal guidance and assistance.
Ladao said she first reached out to Cruz through Facebook in February 2026.
Dela Cruz said she became familiar with Cruz through her online videos during the pandemic, where the lawyer discussed the programs of the PITMASTER Foundation, of which she serves as executive director. She also said members of the Religious Virgin Mary congregation, who had been her clients as a manicurist for years, spoke highly of Cruz, a former student of the congregation.
Although they knew Cruz represented Ang, Dela Cruz said they agreed to meet her in the hope of obtaining guidance regarding their situation.
According to the affidavits, Dela Cruz, Ladao and fellow victim's relative Eloisa Bohol first met Cruz at her Mandaluyong office on March 4.
Ladao maintained that Cruz never asked them to stop attending hearings or to abandon their search for justice.
She said another meeting took place on March 6, described as a "girls' talk," attended by Bohol, Japag and several other relatives of the missing sabungeros.
Ladao, who said she merely observed the meeting, insisted no one was pressured or instructed to withdraw any case and that the discussion centered on how Cruz could assist the families.
Reports said Cruz gave some of the families a small amount of financial assistance from her own funds after noticing their financial difficulties in pursuing the case.
However, Ladao claimed some members of the group later misrepresented the assistance as a payoff from Ang's camp.
In particular, she criticized Japag for alleging in her complaint-affidavit that the financial aid was intended to influence the families.
Ladao also said another meeting involving complainant Dianne Loyola and Bohol took place on April 20, during which she was present. She again denied that any payoff occurred.
The respondents further alleged that divisions later emerged among the victims' relatives. They claimed Ladao's group was removed from a group chat managed by Loyola and Japag without explanation.
Ladao alleged that she and other members of her group eventually came to believe that some relatives were planning to seek a substantial out-of-court settlement from Ang's camp in exchange for dropping the case.
However, Ang's camp has consistently denied that any settlement negotiations or payoff discussions ever took place.
The DOJ has yet to resolve the obstruction of justice complaint.