MANILA -- Whistleblower Julie Patidongan, along with his legal team, attended a court hearing at the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 185 on Wednesday afternoon for seven counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention filed against him and five others.
The alleged incident occurred on January 13, 2022, involving several cockfight enthusiasts or sabungeros.
Since the arraignment and pre-trial conference in September 2023, the case has undergone multiple hearings, with several prosecution witnesses taking the stand—including members of the Philippine National Police and private individuals. Bail was granted to each accused in the amount of P3 million last December 2023.
Atty. Manuel Ventura, legal counsel for Julie Patidongan, appeared alongside his client and emphasized their commitment to the legal process by voluntarily attending the hearing despite holding a waiver of appearance.
“Earlier, I required my clients—Julie Patidongan and Cordilla—to be present, even though I knew they had waivers of appearance. It’s simply a gesture of respect for the court and the rule of law,” Ventura said.
However, Ventura noted that the four other accused individuals...
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