In a stunning development that could crack open one of the country’s most chilling unresolved criminal cases, the brother of a key whistleblower has come forward claiming to have witnessed the execution of 10 individuals allegedly linked to the disappearance of several cockfighting enthusiasts, or “sabungeros.”
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed on Saturday that Elakim Patidongan, sibling of earlier whistleblower Julie Patidongan, is now in the custody of Philippine authorities and is preparing to provide testimony that could reshape the trajectory of the case.
According to Remulla, Elakim was embedded in the criminal ring behind the string of disappearances and was present during a mass execution—reportedly carried out to silence individuals connected to the illicit operations tied to cockfighting gambling syndicates.
“This isn’t just another witness,” said Remulla. “This is someone who lived and breathed inside the organization. He didn’t just hear things—he saw them unfold.”
Elakim was recently apprehended in an undisclosed Southeast Asian country and returned to the Philippines under tight security. Officials have not disclosed how long he had been on the run or under observation, but his return marks a pivotal moment in the long-stalled investigation.
What makes this testimony particularly explosive is the list of personalities allegedly implicated. Elakim is expected to testify in complaints of murder and serious illegal detention against controversial businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang and others. Also named in the complaint, albeit anonymously, is actress Gretchen Barretto, referred to as “Jane Doe” in legal filings.
While authorities have yet to publicly detail the motives behind the mass killings or how they connect to the broader sabungero disappearances, Remulla stressed that Elakim’s account will be instrumental in pursuing charges.
“It’s not every day that someone this deep inside a criminal operation decides to speak,” said Remulla. “This could very well be the turning point we’ve been waiting for.”
Julie Patidongan, Elakim’s sister, was the original whistleblower whose revelations helped form the foundation of the initial complaint filed by families of the missing men. With her brother’s chilling firsthand account now expected to bolster those claims, pressure is mounting on authorities to accelerate the pace of justice.
The disappearance of the sabungeros—many of whom vanished under suspicious circumstances while attending or organizing cockfighting events—sparked nationwide outrage in previous years. Despite scattered leads and public appeals, few credible witnesses had emerged—until now.
Investigators say that Elakim’s cooperation may reveal not only the identities of those behind the crimes, but also expose the deeper networks of corruption and violence surrounding illegal gambling in the Philippines.
Human rights groups and relatives of the missing individuals are now closely monitoring the case, hopeful that Elakim’s testimony could finally break the silence that has long surrounded the killings.
Whether justice will finally be served remains to be seen—but for the first time in years, there is a new lead, and a new voice, emerging from the shadows.