Gretchen Barretto Camp: Filing Charges vs Accuser ‘Not Helpful Now’

Published: July 2025

💬 Statement from Barretto’s Camp

Actress Gretchen Barretto and her legal team have announced that pressing criminal charges at this time would not be helpful, following recent explosive allegations from self-confessed whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan. Spokesperson Alma Mallonga emphasized that while the camp reserves the right to pursue legal options in the future, their priority is to cooperate with authorities and let truth prevail.

🔍 Background of the Allegations

In early July, Patidongan—who claims to have been a security chief for businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang—named Gretchen as one of the “alpha” members allegedly voting to abduct and allegedly dispose of missing sabungeros between 2021 and 2022 (qa.philstar.com).

He further asserted that Gretchen’s vote was part of a decision to eliminate sabungeros accused of cheating, allegedly to protect Ang’s e-sabong operations.

The gravity of the allegations prompted Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla to include Gretchen in the official investigation, stating that mention by a whistleblower is sufficient grounds (qa.philstar.com, gmanetwork.com).

🛡️ Barretto Denies Accusations; Highlights Extortion

Gretchen’s camp vigorously denied the accusations, calling them unsubstantiated and rooted in rumor, without any firsthand evidence .

They also revealed alleged extortion attempts made against Gretchen—promises to remove her name from the probe in exchange for money. She refused, stating firmly that:

“She has done nothing wrong,” and that the extortion attempts were dropped (qa.philstar.com).

Her team reaffirmed her full cooperation with authorities, expressing confidence that a thorough investigation will eventually clear her name.

⚖️ Legal Strategy: Why Not Filing Now?

Gretchen’s legal counsel explained that launching criminal libel or slander suits against Patidongan and others at this point may complicate ongoing investigations and detract from the search for factual verification.

By focusing on transparency and collaboration, her team hopes to reinforce Gretchen’s image as a responsible public figure trusting in due process rather than retaliation.

🏛️ What Authorities Are Doing

Secretary Remulla confirmed that the Justice Department’s fiscal team and the Philippine National Police are treating Gretchen, alongside Atong Ang, as formal suspects due to Patidongan’s testimony (gmanetwork.com).

Evidence collection is ongoing—including financial records, meeting logs, and witness statements.
Gretchen has signaled her willingness to testify under oath if required.
Meanwhile, the DOJ is preparing possible charges such as kidnapping, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice.

🔚 Bottom Line

Gretchen’s camp sees premature lawsuits as counterproductive—they prefer to let formal evidence speak for itself.
They deny wrongdoing and allege extortion as a motive behind the allegations.
With both public and official scrutiny intensifying, the spotlight now shifts to how DOJ and PNP investigations progress—and whether any credible evidence substantiates the whistleblower’s claims.

📚 Related Articles & Updates

The whistleblower’s controversial testimony against Gretchen Barretto
Atong Ang and Gretchen included in the missing sabungeros probe
Whistleblower alleges Gretchen voted for kidnapping sabungeros
Gretchen Barretto claims extortion attempts tied to the probe
DOJ confirms Gretchen’s status as a formal suspect in the sabungero case