Whistleblower’s ‘missing link’ kin in sabungeros case now in PNP custody

MANILA, Philippines — Two siblings of self-proclaimed whistleblower Julie "Dondon" Patidongan were picked up by authorities abroad, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

PNP spokesperson Jean Fajardo said on Thursday, July 31, that Patidongan’s siblings could be the “missing link” in the case of the abduction of the missing sabungeros.

“Hindi nating pinaputok sa media kasi gusto nating makuha itong dalawa na ito dahil naniniwala tayo ito 'yung mga missing link doon sa mga kaso ng missing sabongero,” Fajardo said. 

(We did not release it to the media because we want to get these two individuals, as we believe they are the missing links in the cases of the missing cockfight enthusiasts.)

The siblings, identified as Jose and Elakim Patidongan, were repatriated to the country by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on July 22. 

According to Fajardo, CIDG Director Romeo Macapas received information on June 23 that the two siblings were in another country.

He then coordinated with the Bureau of Investigation on June 26 to facilitate the immediate retrieval of these individuals.

However, Fajardo did not disclose which country in Southeast Asia Patidongan’s siblings were picked up from.

Fajardo also recalled that in one of Patidongan’s statements, he mentioned two individuals who could confirm his claims — people he knew and who had worked for him.

These individuals were reportedly the ones seen withdrawing money from an ATM in Batangas and the same pair who escorted missing cockfight enthusiast Michael Bautista.

However, the PNP spokesperson said Patidongan did not previously reveal that these “missing links” were actually his siblings.

Patidongan had earlier identified the alleged masterminds behind the disappearance of the cockfight enthusiasts who went missing in 2021.

He also disclosed the alleged location where the missing cockfighters were dumped after being executed.