The younger brother of whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patindongan confirmed that he was the one caught on CCTV withdrawing money using the ATM card of one of the missing sabungeros, adding that it was a policeman who ordered him to do that.
In Emil Sumangil’s exclusive report on “24 Oras” on Friday, Elakim Patidongan said that he did not know that the ATM card belonged to a certain Melbert John Santos.
“Binigay niya sa akin ‘yung ATM pero nu’ng mga time na ‘yon, ‘di ko alam na kay…sa missing sabungero pala ‘yung ATM na ‘yon. Nalaman ko na lang ‘yon nu’ng lumalabas na ang balita,” said Elakim.
(He gave me the ATM, but at the time, I didn’t know that the ATM card belonged to the missing cockfighter. I only found out when the news came out.)
Elakim claimed that the cop wanted to know how much money entered Santos’ account, suspecting that he could have been involved in cheating in a cockfight.
“Pinapa-check kung malaki ba ang laman…kung malaki ang kinita nila,” he added.
(He wanted to check how much the amount was…if they earned so much.)
Moreover, Elakim said that he is ready to stand as a witness to the case of the missing cockfighting enthusiasts.
“Handa po akong isiwalat lahat ang aking nalalaman at aking nasaksihan,” he said.
(I’m ready to tell everything that I know and witnessed.)
Meanwhile, “Dondon” said that his brother’s statements would complete the story on what really happened to the sabungeros.
“Alam niya eh. Nakarating ‘yon du’n kung saan ang katayan saka nakita niya kung paano pagpuputulin daw ‘yung tiyan, kung paano binubutasan ‘yung mga laman-laman. Nu’ng ano, hindi na niya tinitingan, natakot na siya,” he said.
(He knows. He had been to the slaughterhouse where he witnessed cutting the stomachs and puncturing of the organs. He couldn’t bear seeing that and he was really scared.)
But “Dondon” said that he cannot accept the Philippine National Police’s statement saying that they would be charged. He appealed to Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to speed up the process of placing him under the witness protection program, the report said.
“May kaso na ako, bakit kailangan pa nila ako kasuhan? Para saan? “Yun ang malaking tanong ko, kaya ngayon kakausapin ko si SOJ na puwedeng ‘yon na muna ang unahin ‘yung WPP ko..Tatakbo pa nang isang taon ‘yan bago ako mailagay sa WPP,” said “Dondon.”
(I was already charged, so why file another one against me? That’s my biggest question and I want to talk to SOJ if they can prioritize my WPP…Because the case could run for a year before they could put me in WPP.)
“Dondon” reiterated the people he would file charges against: Charlie “Atong” Ang, Eric dela Rosa, a certain “Engineer Salazar”, William Ang, and Gretchen Barretto.
Atong Ang and Barretto already denied the allegations before. GMA Integrated News is trying to reach out to all the people named by Patidongan for comments. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News
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