MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Chairperson and retired judge Felix Reyes has challenged whistleblower Julie Patidongan to substantiate his accusations linking “a former judge” to alleged “case fixing” in favor of businessman Atong Ang in connection with the missing sabungeros case.
In a statement released Wednesday, Reyes said Patidongan should identify a case involving Ang, or any matter related to the missing sabungeros, that would indicate he allegedly “fixed or settled [it] to the advantage” of the businessman.
“If Mr. Patidongan cannot substantiate his accusation of case-fixing, I ask him to shut up,” Reyes added.
The PCSO chief was referring to Patidongan’s recent remark in a radio interview that “a former judge” is allegedly involved in fixing Atong Ang’s cases related to the missing sabungeros.
Patidongan also said the former judge now holds a high-ranking position in the PCSO and is being protected by other top officials.
“I categorically deny such wild accusations of Mr. Patidongan,” Reyes said in the statement.
“I find it perhaps, a rare coincidence that these wild accusations of Mr. Patidongan came out a day after I filed my application for the position of Ombudsman,” he added.
Patidongan recently identified Ang and actress Gretchen Barretto as the masterminds behind the case of the missing sabungeros, whom he claimed were killed and their bodies dumped into the Taal lake three years ago.
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