DOJ drops the ‘sabungeros’ case filed against Gretchen Barretto.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) dismissed the criminal case against actress Gretchen Barretto related to the missing sabungeros.
Government prosecutors have indicted businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang and 21 others for the death of several sabungeros. While there’s still an ongoing search operation in Taal Lake in the case of the missing sabungeros or cockfight enthusiasts, the Department of Justice (DOJ) found prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction to charge these individuals.
In a press statement, Ang is facing 10 counts of kidnapping with homicide and 16 counts of kidnapping with serious illegal detention. There are 21 co-accused, and 15 of them were policemen for kidnapping with homicide, and nine co-accused, plus several John and Jane Does for kidnapping with serious illegal detention.
A whistleblower also claimed that an actress was linked to the case, alleging she is a member of the Alpha group. The name of Gretchen Barretto was dragged; however, in the recent development, the DOJ dismissed the criminal case against Barretto related to the missing sabungeros.
She was among the alleged members of the Pitmaster Alpha Group, but the prosecutors said “the evidence against the so-called Pitmaster Alpha Group is speculative and uncorroborated.”
The DOJ resolution noted that Patidongan “merely alleged that these persons attended meetings where decisions were supposed to be made to ‘punish’ cheating sabungeros,” and that there is “no showing that they gave direct orders, participated in logistics, or had knowledge of the specific abductions.”
These meetings were not supported by documents, recordings, or independent witnesses.
Previously, when the reports about her alleged involvement erupted, Barretto immediately submitted a counter-affidavit, believing the investigation would be fair. She has since denied involvement in the disappearances and alleged killings.
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