Sabungeros whistleblower Julie Patidongan and his brother, Ellakim, have been admitted as state witnesses in cases involving missing sabungeros or cockfight enthusiasts under the Department of Justice (DOJ) Witness Protection Program (WPP). This admission clears Patidongan and Ellakim of charges related to a complaint filed by families of missing sabungeros with the DOJ, which alleged serious illegal detention and multiple murder. However, Patidongan remains a respondent in a separate ongoing case for the alleged kidnapping of John Claude Inonog, James Baccay, Marlon Baccay, Rondel Cristorum, Mark Joseph Velasco, and Rowel Gomez, filed with a Manila court. The prosecution must present evidence and sworn statements to support the discharge of accused individuals as state witnesses, and this process is separate from the case involving Patidongan and Ellakim. Meanwhile, the DOJ has found prima facie evidence to charge businessman Charlie 'Atong' Ang and 21 others with kidnapping with homicide and/or kidnapping with serious illegal detention, while dismissing the complaint against actress Gretchen Barretto, former National Capital Region Police Office chief retired Police General Jonnel Estomo, and Ang's children and relatives.
