Charlie “Atong” Ang’s Shadow Payments: Did He Really Give ₱1 Million to a Laguna Police Director? Examining the Missing Sabungeros Scandal

Introduction

The disappearance of dozens of sabungeros—cockfighting patrons responsible for organizing or betting in matches—between 2021 and 2022 shocked communities across Luzon. For years, their fate remained a mystery until recent claims surfaced via a whistleblower: that businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang may have bribed law enforcement officials, including a police director in Laguna, and facilitated abductions and killings.

Among the startling allegations is that one Laguna Provincial Police Office Director accepted ₱1 million directly from Ang. This article carefully unpacks these developments, highlights verified facts, and offers a balanced perspective on what could be one of the most disturbing crime scandals tied to e-sabong operations.

1. The Missing Sabungeros: A Timeline of Tragedy

Between April 2021 and January 2022, at least 34 sabungeros went missing in Luzon—with most cases reported in Laguna, Batangas, Bulacan, Manila, and Rizal. In 2025, authorities raised the missing number to nearly 100 individuals, based on eyewitness accounts of bodies dumped in Taal Lake under suspicious circumstances.

These disappearances were delayed in investigation for years—until a former insider came forward in mid‑2025 with explosive details. The National Bureau of Investigation, local police, and human rights advocates had long called for closure on these unresolved cases, many of which pointed to the use of force, abduction, and murder.

2. Who Is Charlie “Atong” Ang?

Charlie Tiu Ang is a high-profile figure in the gambling industry, known for his ownership of cockfighting farms and e-sabong platforms. He leads Pitmasters Live and owns multiple arenas under Lucky 8 Star Quest Inc. His operations have sparked controversies over match‑fixing, alleged political influence, and regulatory bypassing. He also found himself implicated in the impeachment of a former president decades ago.

The missing sabungero case thrust him back into public scrutiny once more, especially after a former insider, Julie “Dondon” Patidongan (alias “Totoy”), came forward with detailed allegations linking Ang to both the killings and police involvement.

3. New Revelations: Bribes, Vouchers, and a ₱1 Million Donation

Patidongan claims to have worked closely with Ang for fifteen years—as farm caretaker and then as security chief. He revealed that he had provided copies of petty cash vouchers, purportedly showing sums paid to police officers categorized as “intelligence” funds.

According to Patidongan, a Laguna Provincial Police Office Director was among the recipients of cash. During a meeting with Ang, the officer allegedly asked Ang for ₱1 million to complete construction of a police facility. The request was reportedly presented in a way that sounded like an informal directive rather than voluntary.

Ang allegedly complied, making a donation—though it remains unclear how the funds were recorded or used. Whether the director took the payment, blocked the investigation, or intervened in the case remains under scrutiny.

4. Payola to the Police: ₱2M a Month Allegations

Beyond the single ₱1 million payment, Patidongan alleged that police officers—across multiple ranks—were on a monthly stipend from Ang. One police colonel was allegedly receiving ₱2 million per month. According to the voucher ledger, a police unit received ₱2.6 million in one payout marked as “intel.”

These funds were allegedly tied to facilitation of the abduction and disposal of sabungeros, especially those allegedly cheating in cockfighting competitions. Patidongan explained that “intel” funds sometimes included ₱500,000 tagged to individuals who were killed, indicating a system where informants and law enforcement were paid for both information and action.

5. The Laguna Provincial Police Director: Relief and Investigation

As pressure mounted, PNP spokesperson confirmed that the Police Director of Laguna, Colonel Rogarth Campo, was relieved from duty to avoid undermining ongoing investigations.

The official reason cited was to prevent interference in inquiries by the national Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. Allegations suggest that Officer Campo was directly tied to the sabungero operations and had received significant sums from Ang—including the disputed ₱1 million donation. Authorities reassigned him to administrative duty while investigative proceedings continue.

6. Legal Battles: Atong Ang’s Reaction and Lawsuits

Ang has consistently denied all wrongdoing. He claims the accusations were concocted by Patidongan and another former employee, Alan Bantiles, as part of a ₱300 million extortion scheme.

Ang’s legal camp filed criminal charges against Patidongan and Bantiles for attempted robbery with violence, grave threat, coercion, and slander. Ang asserted the payments discussed were part of relocation assistance for Patidongan and his family—not hush money or bribery.

His statements at a press conference emphasized that no blood money, abductions, or killings were tied to his operations, and he vowed full cooperation with authorities.

7. Public and Official Response

The National Police Commission encouraged Patidongan to submit a complaint affidavit to fast-track administrative proceedings against implicated officers. Napolcom officials pledged swift action, noting that internal investigations could lead to dismissal or suspension, without possibility of appeal.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary confirmed that 15 police officers have been placed under restricted status pending criminal and administrative review. Public outrage over the unresolved disappearances has intensified, with families of the missing demanding answers and justice.

8. The Implications of a ₱1 Million Payment

If verified, the allegation that Ang directly gave ₱1 million to a Laguna police director highlights potential misuse of influence for personal protection or to suppress investigations.

It raises ethical questions: whether law enforcement participated in gross misconduct, to what extent payments affected case resolution, and whether the system enabled disappearance crimes under the guise of crackdown.

Combined with the broader payola allegations, the case underscores deeply rooted patterns of corruption in both gambling networks and local policing structures.

9. What Can Still Be Substantiated?

Confirmed: At least 34 sabungeros are officially missing, likely more according to whistleblower. Bodies reportedly dumped in Taal Lake.
Confirmed: Whistleblower Julie “Totoy” Patidongan provided petty cash vouchers suggesting payments reaching ₱2.6 million to police units.
Confirmed: Laguna Police Director Colonel Campo was removed from duty amid allegations.
Alleged but unverified: That ₱1 million payment was made by Ang to Campo for construction projects—or that it was used to obstruct investigations.
Denied: By Ang, who claims the whistleblower is attempting extortion and mischaracterizing humanitarian support as bribery.

10. Final Assessment: Toward Justice or Cover-Up?

At the heart of this scandal is a question of accountability: are powerful individuals manipulating systems to conceal crimes—and is the justice system impartial enough to act?

A single ₱1 million donation, if proven as payment to a police director, would not only be a provocative violation of ethics—it would reinforce suspicions around systemic cover-up, pay-to-play influence, and complicity in kidnapping and murder.

Millions of pesos in alleged monthly payola deepen the gravity of these accusations. Government bodies now bear the responsibility to act decisively, collect evidence, and prosecute if wrongdoing is substantiated.

Conclusion

The claim that Charlie “Atong” Ang gave ₱1 million to a Laguna police director may seem like a single financial detail. But in the context of mass disappearances, whistleblower testimonies, and allegations of police collusion, it forms a pivotal dimension of a broader criminal investigation.

With investigations ongoing and no official convictions yet, the case remains complicated. But the alleged payment—just one entry among many—underscores the need for transparency, accountability, and justice for missing sabungeros and their families.