By Robert B. Roque, Jr.
The investigation into the disappearance of 32 “sabungeros” or cockfight aficionados might well have closed, but it is not a touch-and-go situation for the Senate.
Clearly contained in Committee Report No. 646 of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, which was released last week, were recommendations for the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to forge on with their independent investigations until the culprits are brought to justice.
In retrospect, the probe led by Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, a former chief of the PNP, did not all go to naught even if his early suspicions of the involvement of gambling tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang were not proven in the course of the hearings.
As I’ve said before, Mr. Ang is a smooth operator who – with his billionaire charm and sweet tongue – is no stranger to spinning nationally-televised congressional hearings to his favor.
But not everything went his way as President Duterte – following the course of the Senate probe led by his once trusted PNP chief and the recommendation of his no-nonsense DILG secretary, retired Gen. Eduardo M. Ano – decided to suspend all online cockfighting or “e-sabong” operations in the country.
Peculiarly, Ang did not flinch, although the sum of all profits lost from his Lucky Star 8 Quest’s “Pitmasters” e-sabong operations is rumored to be upwards of P50 million a day. Of course, if you’re him, who controls 90 percent of that gambling industry, that claim would sound more like fact.
Yet, as cool as a cucumber, the gambling boss tells his stakeholders not to panic. If I quote him correctly in his video message a day after e-sabong operations were ordered suspended, Ang said: “Huwag mag-alala at mag-antay muna habang inaayos ang mga tamang polisiya ukol dito.” [Do not worry and just wait while correct policies regarding this are being fixed.]
Well, he did sound self-assured. It makes me wonder if it’s the kind of character he is that makes a perfect match with negotiating e-sabong’s return with the incoming administration of Marcos Jr. The president-elect seems vocal about the need for revenue for his spending agenda for 2023, and what better money-talker than Ang?
But that is if there is no truth to pre-election statements attributed to Ang that Bongbong Marcos is supposedly close to a big-time gambling rival of his. Of course, he made no mention (as in the Senate executive session) if he was referring to Bong Pineda or Chavit Singson. And his dear friend, Gretchen Barretto, belied Ang was ever bad-mouthing the now incoming president of the republic.
At present, I believe Ang is trying his darned best to play his cards right. If not, he could slam into a double-whammy – the perpetual loss of his World Pitmasters Cup in the e-sabong scene; and his being dragged into the cases of the missing sabungeros, most of whom were abducted at three of his cockpit arenas.
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