Lookout bulletin issued vs Atong, Gretchen, others

MANILA, Philippines — An Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) has been issued against gambling tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang, actress Gretchen Barretto, retired Lt. Gen. Jonnel Estomo and over 50 other people to monitor their movement in and out of the country.

The ILBO is in line with the preliminary investigation started by the Department of Justice (DOJ) against them for murder and illegal detention charges in connection with the alleged killings of the missing cockfight enthusiasts or sabungeros. 

“We already have lookout bulletin for all of them. It’s already there. All those mentioned by Patidongan have been issued lookout bulletins already,” Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla said at a press conference yesterday.

Remulla was referring to whistleblower Julie “Don-Don” Patidongan, alias “Totoy,” whose sworn affidavit was among the primary basis of the relatives of the missing sabungeros in filing a complaint of multiple murder and illegal detention against Ang, several police officials and other individuals who supposedly belong to Ang’s “Alpha Group.”

Patidongan had earlier tagged Ang as the mastermind behind the disappearance and murder of over 100 cockfight enthusiasts. He said Barretto also had knowledge of and involvement in the sabungeros’ disappearance.

An ILBO directs the Bureau of Immigration to monitor any domestic or foreign travel of a person under investigation. 

Remulla said the ILBOs were issued as Ang, Barretto, Estomo and over 50 other people are now under preliminary investigation by the DOJ.

At the same press briefing, DOJ National Prosecution Service prosecutor-general Richard Anthony Fadullon said his office had already finished the evaluation of the complaint of relatives of the missing sabungeros and found sufficient ground to proceed with the formal investigation.

“The evaluation stage has been terminated and we will now proceed with the preliminary investigation,” Fadullon said. “Probably by next week we can issue the subpoena already.”

During the preliminary investigation, respondents in the complaint are formally informed of the allegations against them and given time to submit their counter-affidavits.

Fadullon said that if there is a need, the DOJ Panel of Prosecutors, in the course of the preliminary investigation, can even request for issuance of Precautionary Hold Departure Order from a court to prevent the respondents from leaving the country. 

Patidongan, currently under the DOJ’s witness protection program, had earlier said in a television interview that the missing sabungeros were all killed by strangulation as they were accused of cheating in cockfight games and were eventually dumped in Taal Lake.