MANILA – The Mandaluyong City Prosecutor’s Office has dismissed the criminal complaints filed by businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang against his former employee, Julie “Dondon” Patidongan, who had implicated him in the case of the missing sabungeros (cockfight enthusiasts).

In a 19-page resolution dated September 30 and made public Monday, prosecutors also cleared Patidongan’s co-respondent, Alan “Brown” Bantiles, citing lack of prima facie evidence that could lead to a conviction.

Ang had accused Patidongan and Bantiles of robbery-extortion, grave threats, grave coercion, slander, and incriminating an innocent person, claiming the two demanded ₱300 million from him in exchange for not linking him to the disappearance of the cockfight enthusiasts.

However, prosecutors found the evidence insufficient to prove any form of intimidation, pointing out that Ang himself initiated all communications with the respondents.

“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,” the resolution stated.

“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,” it added.

The Prosecutor’s Office also noted Ang’s admission that he made campaign contributions to Patidongan’s mayoralty bid during the same period he claimed to be under threat.

Ang’s continued financial support—amounting to ₱12 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 resolution said.

“(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,” the Prosecutor’s Office added. (PNA)