The kin of missing sabungeros couldn’t help but feel impatient with the manhunt for businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang, who is the alleged mastermind behind the disappearances.
According to Emil Sumangil’s exclusive report on “24 Oras” on Thursday, authorities have raided at least 18 properties of Ang within three weeks after the court issued the warrants of arrest against him. But the businessman is still nowhere to be found.
“Kung talagang huhulihin, mahuhuli ‘yan. Napansin namin parang pinaiikot na lang kami. Nasaan siya?” said Maria Carmelita Lasco, mother of one of the missing sabungeros.
(If they really wanted to catch him, he’d be caught by now. It feels like they’re just giving us the runaround. Where is he?)
“Parang hindi pursigido yung mga kapulisan. Pinatay na nga nila yung mga anak namin, pati ba naman kami pahihirapan hanggang ngayon?” said Carmen Malaca, a mother of another victim.
(It seems like the police aren’t determined. Our children were killed, are they going to make us suffer until now?)
For whistleblower Dondon Patidongan, who previously worked for Ang, he believes that his former boss could already be outside the country. However, he said that Ang has properties in exclusive subdivisions in Metro Manila.
“Maliban sa bahay, mga bahay ng anak niya. Mayroon pa diyan sa ***, pinakamalaking bahay ‘yan, isa rin sa pinagtataguan namin ‘yan,” he said.
(Aside from the house, [there are] the houses of his children. There is also one in ***, that’s the biggest house, and that is one of the places where we used to hide.)
Patidongan also said that Ang still has connections.
“Nasa gobyerno rin lahat ‘yan. Sila nagti-timbre ‘Mr. Atong Ang, lalabas na bukas ang warrant mo, umalis ka na,’ parang ganoon ang pangyayari,” he said.
(They are all in the government, too. They are the ones giving the tip-off: ‘Mr. Atong Ang, your warrant is coming out tomorrow, you should leave now’—it seems like that’s what’s happening.)
For its part, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said that it’s been receiving “fresh information” about Ang.
“Marami po tayong vinerify na information during the past days. We are receiving almost every day fresh information at ‘yan ay kaagad nating binibigyan ng karampatang aksyon para mahuli natin si Mr. Atong Ang,” said NBI-NCR director Joel Tovera.
(We have verified a lot of information during the past few days. We are receiving fresh information almost every day, and we immediately take the appropriate action so we can catch Mr. Atong Ang.)
“May natatanggap rin tayong text messages na nasa abroad na daw. We will just take note of that information and may mga opisina naman na in charge diyan sa international community,” he added.
(We are also receiving text messages claiming he is already abroad. We will just take note of that information, and there are offices in charge of the international community.)
But the kin of the victims are requesting the government to increase the monetary reward to those who can give a tip on Ang’s whereabouts.
“Secretary Jonvic Remulla, dagdagan niyo na ho kung doble, triple pa nito. Kasi baka pinapantayan lang ng ating suspect yung pabuya na ito,” said Charlene Lasco.
(Secretary Jonvic Remulla, please increase [the reward], whether it’s double or triple. Because the suspect might just be matching the current reward amount [to keep people quiet].)
The families are also requesting the Department of Justice (DOJ) to have courts update them on court hearings, and move the hearings, as well as the custody of those accused, to Metro Manila.
“Natatakot din kaming pumunta doon. Kasi unang-una, doon nawala yung mga kamag-anak namin,” said Dianne Loyola, adding that she only received a subpoena yesterday for a hearing that was conducted last January 23.
(We are also afraid to go there in the province. Because first and foremost, that is where our relatives went missing.)
“Pagdating sa hearing, magkaroon naman po kami ng escort na mga pulis, kasi yung safety po namin,” one said.
(When it comes to the hearings, we should have police escorts for our safety.)
The kin will also ask the DOJ if the hearings can be opened to the media. GMA Integrated News is reaching out to the DOJ and the Department of the Interior and Local Government for comments. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News
