MANILA — Businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang, through his lawyer Atty. Gabriel Villareal, asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) not to list him as a respondent in the ongoing Manila court case involving missing sabungeros.

Villareal said the accusations against Ang stem from a recantation affidavit by whistleblower Julie Patidongan. Patidongan, initially implicating Ang, later filed an affidavit denying his involvement. Villareal claims this was part of her commitment under the Witness Protection Agreement to be discharged from the case.

“Mr. Ang has nothing to do with the Manila incident,” Villareal said. “The accusation against him is anchored on Patidongan’s recantation affidavit, which she filed today denying any involvement of Mr. Ang.”

The DOJ’s preliminary investigation, led by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), was re-opened based on Patidongan’s affidavit to identify previously unknown John Does. Justice spokesperson Polo Martinez said the re-opening will not affect the presentation of evidence in the ongoing trial.

Villareal also said he does not know Ang’s current whereabouts, though he believes the businessman remains in the country. He has had no direct contact with Ang since the issuance of arrest warrants, with updates coming only from media reports.

Aside from the Manila case, Villareal said Ang has pending motions for reconsideration and other proceedings in regional trial courts in Sta. Cruz, Laguna; Lipa, Batangas; and San Pablo, Laguna, including motions to quash information and hearings on bail applications for other defendants.

The Manila case involves the disappearance of sabungeros John Claude Inonog, James Baccay, Marlon Baccay, Rondel Cristorum, Mark Joseph Velasco, and Rowel Gomez.