Why Emil Sumangil took on dangerous task of reporting on missing sabungeros

CEBU, Philippines — Emil Sumangil only uses the messaging application WhatsApp when he’s out of the country for field coverage. So imagine his surprise one afternoon when he received a phone call through the app. On the other line was Julie Dondon Patidongan alyas ‘Totoy’, the former right-hand man of Atong Ang, who was allegedly linked to the 34 missing sabungeros (cockfighters) in 2021 and 2022.

At that point, the sabungero cases had reached a dead end in the courts, and there was nothing for Sumangil to report on unless new information came to light. In that call, “Totoy” expressed interest in meeting the Kapuso journalist for an interview.

“This issue has been going on for four years. It’s stagnant, and I could not do anything to keep this story ongoing because no one in the police would speak,” Sumangil told the audience at the University of the Philippines-Cebu Performing Arts Hall yesterday, September 22, where he was the latest speaker for the GMA Masterclass in line with Cebu Press Freedom Week. “I want to keep the story alive because it shows how difficult our system is.”

Sumangil, 46, didn’t say yes right away after the abrupt phone call that turned into a video call for verification. He spent a few days contemplating whether to use “Totoy” as his source to continue the story he first picked up in 2021, when it was initially known to be 10 missing cockfighters.
As soon as he got the go-signal from his GMA Network bosses, Sumangil and “Totoy” agreed to meet in a steakhouse in Metro Manila, where the former laid out how his reports would proceed. After consulting with his lawyer, “Totoy” was ready to drop the bombshell.

During the exclusive interview that aired on “24 Oras” last July, Totoy named Atong Ang and his former business partner, Gretchen Barretto, as the alleged masterminds behind the missing sabungeros. He detailed how the sabungeros were killed and where they were buried, allegedly at Taal Lake. He also claimed the body count was much higher than previously reported – closer to 100.

Totoy said he wanted to go public with his revelations because of threats to his life and family and as a chance to redeem himself by admitting his past wrongdoings, even expressing willingness to testify in court.

His interview reignited interest in the missing sabungero cases. Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Remulla considered Totoy’s claims credible, prompting a search in the Taal Lake area. Authorities later found sacks of bones, though it has yet to be confirmed if these belong to the sabungeros, as they remain under forensic investigation by Scene of the Crime Operatives.

The revelations also renewed public interest in GMA Public Affairs’ documentary “Lost Sabungeros,” in which Sumangil was interviewed. It has yet to see a wide release, being screened only in festivals and universities, as its commercial release was barred after MTRCB refused to classify it under the sub judice rule while the case is still in court.

As GMA Integrated News’ police beat reporter, Sumangil recalled how he first received a call in 2021 asking to verify a story about missing cockfighters, initially thinking it was an ordinary police report. However, many crucial details were unavailable at the time, requiring further investigation.

Having covered congested Philippine prison cells and the Marawi Siege firsthand, Sumangil didn’t hesitate to take the sabungero assignment.

“Wala kasing ibang gagawa eh. Sino ba sa palagay n’yo ang may kahit konting talino, gulang, at diskarte para maitira ang magandang storya mula simula hanggang ngayon?,” Sumangil said. “With all humility, parang ako ‘yon. Nasa akin ang talento at ngayon ko gustong gamitin. ‘Yan ang drive para magkaroon ng courage sa storyang ‘to.”

He also accepted the assignment to help the families find closure, while remaining objective throughout his reports in accordance with media ethics. While acknowledging that stories like this tend to appear on the side of the victims, he said, “Journalists should not let their emotions show in the stories they are telling.”

After the interview aired, many citizens expressed concern for Sumangil’s safety, especially after he was notably absent from some of his shows, including his anchoring duties on “24 Oras.” His wife, Michelle, asked in a Facebook post for prayers for his safety.

In a video statement posted by GMA Public Affairs last July 12, Sumangil assured the public that he was fine and had only taken a vacation following the interview, thanking citizens for showing their concern online.

He elaborated on the aftermath during his Cebu talk when asked if his family received any threats.

“This is not the first time a story like this has had to change our routine within the family, but this is definitely a big one,” he said. “Whatever routine I used to have before, I cannot do it outside randomly as I used to. I used to exercise outside the compound or somewhere else. But now, it’s not the case.”

“To be quite frank, I am not scared at all. It’s normal for my job. But I guess for our family, our routines have changed now, and it’s not the same as it was before. We have to look to our left, our right, our front, and the back now, wherever we go.”

As other national issues, such as ghost flood control projects and corresponding anti-corruption protests dominate the current news cycle, Sumangil said the sabungero cases point to a wider problem in the country.

“The bottom line of what happened to the lost sabungeros is how poverty continues to affect us. The people involved in the e-sabong scheme are usually from the class C and D demographics, and they had to sell scams just to put food on their families’ tables. It shows a wider issue that affects every Filipino.”

As a reader at a Roman Catholic parish in Metro Manila, Sumangil said it was important for him to let his faith go hand in hand with his job as a journalist, especially in high-risk stories like this.

“We should put our love of Jesus into what we do in our careers. I said in my prayer that I’ll accept this assignment, but use me as an instrument to give these families justice. After a very long time, whatever we do, we will have a solution one day. That’s why I am pursuing this story.” — (FREEMAN)