Atong Ang files complaint vs. ‘Totoy’ over alleged P300M extortion

Atong Ang arrives in Mandaluyong Court to file charges vs 'Alyas Totoy'

Businessman Atong Ang on Thursday filed a complaint against Julie “Dondon Patidongan, alias Totoy, one of the accused in the case of the missing sabungeros who named Ang as a mastermind, and another individual, saying he was being extorted for P300 million.

Ang, accompanied by lawyer Lorna Patajo-Kapunan, filed his complaint before the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor’s Office.

The complaint is for conspiracy to commit attempted robbery with violence against or intimidation of persons, grave threats, grave coercion, slander, and incriminating against innocent persons.

The respondents are Patidongan and alias Brown, another former employee.

Patajo-Kapunan again denied the allegations against Ang.

“The reason na nandito kami and the reason why we filed the case is because, number one, for the truth to come out. Number two, to affirm that Atong Ang and the members of the… group are willing to cooperate with the government,” Patoja-Kapunan said in a briefing.

(The reason we are here and the reason why we filed the case is, number one, for the truth to come out. Number two, to affirm that Atong Ang and the members of the group are willing to cooperate with the government.)

“That includes the President, that includes the Supreme Court, and that includes the Secretary of Justice and all the personnel,” she added.

She said that their camp is on the side of justice and the side of the families of the missing sabungeros.

“Sana ay mabasa rin ng gobyerno, and we will furnish them a copy, so that sundan nila ‘yung mga leads, hindi lang isang lead lang na false pa and misleading. ‘Wag sila maniwala sa evidence ng isang whistleblower na alam natin, based on personal knowledge, na siya ang nag di-distort,” she said.

(I hope the government also reads it, and we will furnish them a copy so they can follow the leads, not just one lead that is false and misleading. They shouldn’t believe the evidence of a whistleblower who, based on personal knowledge, is the one distorting the truth.

Kapunan on Wednesday said that Patidongan came out with his story after he knew that his extortion wouldn’t work and that Ang was about to file a complaint against him.

Patidongan, one of the accused in the case of missing sabungeros, said Ang was the mastermind behind the abductions in Emil Sumangil’s exclusive interview on “24 Oras” on Wednesday night.

He said Ang and three others were behind the abductions from 2021 to 2022 and that more than 100 were killed after being taken away.

“Si Mr. Atong Ang…siya ang pinaka-mastermind at siya naguutos na talagang iligpit ng mga ‘yan,” Patidongan said.

(Mr. Atong Ang is the main mastermind and the one who orders to punish those sabungeros.)

Kapunan, however, said that Patidongan’s statements are “all lies.”

“They’re false. And I think it did come at a time when it became evident to him that Mr. Atong Ang was not going to give in to his extortion of P300 million, which he also tried, attempting to several members of the board,” said Ang’s lawyer.

In the complaint, Ang said that in February, Brown called him and suggested that he pay Patidongan P300 million. He said Brown insinuated that if he refused, Patidongan may implicate him in the cases related to the missing sabungeros.

In June, he said he received information that Patidongan had approached the Philippine National Police and executed a sworn statement, implicating him in the case. He said the statements were allegedly made in February.

According to Ang, Brown had repeatedly called him to demand the money.

On June 22, Ang said Brown made another phone call.

He said he passed the phone to Patidongan, who said that he will maintain his silence should Ang give the money. Brown then said that he has contacted a lawyer to prepare an affidavit of recantation, which Patidongan will allegedly sign.

Ang said he declined the demands and maintained his innocence