Marcos: Culprits behind missing sabungeros will pay
Credit to Author: Helen Flores| Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0800
MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos yesterday vowed that those responsible for the missing cockfighting enthusiasts or sabungeros will be hunted down and punished even if they may be rich, influential or hold government positions.
In his fourth State of the Nation of Address, Marcos said concerned government agencies are coordinating their efforts in investigating the case of the 34 missing sabungeros, who an eyewitness claimed were killed and dumped in Taal Lake.
“The entire government is working to solve these cases of the missing done by the ruthless acts of the syndicates behind the dark work of cockfighting,” the President said in Filipino.
“Most of all, we will make the culprits feel the severity of the punishment for this heinous crime,” he stressed.
Whistle-blower Julie Patindongan, alias Totoy, claimed that his former boss, gambling tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang, was behind the abduction and murders of the sabungeros for alleged cheating. Ang’s cockfighting betting business is done online.
Patindongan claimed Ang had ordered the abduction and killing of more than 100 sabungeros. Divers from the Philippine Coast Guard have been able to recover some apparently human skeletal remains from Taal Lake, but there is no evidence yet to show they are from the missing sabungeros.
While Marcos vowed to run after those behind the abductions, he did not mention the administration’s next move pertaining to online gaming in general amid mounting calls from religious groups and some lawmakers to outlaw it. — Neil Jayson Servallos