Mandaluyong: Prosecutors have dismissed the criminal complaints filed by businessman Charlie 'Atong' Ang against his former employee, Julie 'Dondon' Patidongan, for implicating him in the case of the missing sabungeros (cockfight enthusiasts). In a 19-page resolution dated Sept. 30 and made public on Monday, the Mandaluyong Prosecutor's Office dismissed the charges against Patidongan and co-respondent Alan 'Brown' Bantiles 'for want of prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction.'
According to Philippines News Agency, Ang had filed complaints of robbery-extortion, grave threats, grave coercion, slander, and incriminating an innocent person against Patidongan and Bantiles. He alleged that the duo demanded PHP300 million in exchange for not incriminating him in the case. However, prosecutors noted that all evidence presented was insufficient to prove intimidation, highlighting that it was Ang who had made repeated calls to the respondents.
The Prosecutor's Office stated, 'First, the call logs show that all communications between complainant (Ang) and respondent Bantiles from 08 to 19 February 2025 were outgoing calls initiated by complainant himself. This fact substantially undermines the claim that the latter was under persistent threats and extortion during this period.' Furthermore, they explained, 'In typical extortion scenarios, it is the offender who initiates contact to issue demands or threats. The absence of incoming calls or messages from Bantiles over several days renders implausible the assertion that complainant was under constant pressure or coercion.'
The prosecutors also took note of Ang's admission of having made campaign contributions to Patidongan's mayoralty candidacy during the months when the latter was allegedly extorting from him. Ang's continued financial support for Patidongan's mayoralty candidacy, amounting to PHP12 million between February and April 2025, 'stands in stark contrast to his averment that respondents had already conspired to rob, kidnap and possibly kill him as early as September 2023,' the Prosecutor's Office remarked.
They further elaborated, '(I)t would be difficult to reconcile how complainant, a seasoned businessman of considerable resources and influence, would still choose to fund the very person allegedly orchestrating a criminal scheme against him devoid of any hesitation or visible precaution.'
