Atong Ang with counsel Lorna Kapunan
THE Office of the City Prosecutor of Mandaluyong has dismissed the extortion complaint filed by businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang against whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan and Alan Bantiles, citing a lack of necessary factual details and sufficient proof.
In a 19-page resolution, the city prosecutor dismissed the complaint, which included charges of robbery with violence against or intimidation of persons, grave threats, grave coercion, slander, and incriminating an innocent person. The case stemmed from Ang’s claim that Patidongan and Bantiles threatened to link him to the disappearance of missing “sabungeros” (cockfighting enthusiasts) if he refused to pay P300 million.
The prosecutor’s office cited several reasons for the dismissal, including Ang’s failure to precisely cite the defamatory words allegedly spoken by Patidongan, the lack of evidence proving the authorship and authenticity of a TikTok post linking Ang to the case, and the fact that Ang himself initiated the majority of the calls between him and Bantiles. The prosecutor also questioned the credibility of Ang’s witnesses, suggesting their statements may have been fabricated. Patidongan’s camp hailed the dismissal as “a very good” development.
