By Crime Watch Philippines | July 2025

In a spine-chilling twist straight out of a political-crime thriller, notorious businessman Atong Ang and celebrity-socialite Gretchen Barretto are reported to have secretly fled the country—just as authorities made the horrifying discovery of multiple sabungeros’ remains sealed inside cement-filled drums and dumped into Philippine waters.

The revelation has set off a national firestorm, with citizens demanding answers, accountability, and action as long-buried secrets begin to surface—quite literally.

🌊 FROM GONE TO GRUESOME: MISSING SABUNGEROS FOUND IN CEMENT

Earlier this week, coastal fishermen off the shores of Quezon province retrieved what they thought was just debris. Instead, they found a massive, corroded steel drum—sealed in concrete. When cracked open by local authorities, it revealed human remains wrapped in plastic, preserved in cement, with cockfighting paraphernalia hidden beneath the body.

Within 72 hours, two more drums were recovered, bringing the total to four confirmed deaths—all connected to missing sabungeros from the infamous 2022-2023 disappearance wave, when dozens of cockfighters vanished without a trace after attending private derbies.

Forensic testing confirmed that the bodies belonged to individuals whose families had been seeking justice for over two years.

🛫 SUSPICIOUS ESCAPE: ATONG ANG AND GRETCHEN DEPART QUIETLY

Just as news of the cement drum discovery broke across media channels, immigration records showed that Atong Ang and Gretchen Barretto departed for Singapore on a private jet late Monday night—just hours before the first drum was opened.

Sources inside the Bureau of Immigration confirm that the couple listed “medical consultation and business meetings” as their reason for travel, but neither of them has made any public statement regarding the explosive developments linked to their names.

What’s fueling public suspicion even further is that neither passenger has booked a return flight.

🧠 WHY ARE THEIR NAMES BEING MENTIONED?

Atong Ang, a controversial figure in the Philippine cockfighting and gambling world, has long been accused—though never formally charged—of having underground control over e-sabong operations. Gretchen Barretto, a high-profile socialite and former actress, has been romantically linked to him for years and has often accompanied him to private cockfighting events and political dinners.

Whistleblowers and former insiders have repeatedly linked Ang to secret sabungero blacklists, rigged matches, and mysterious disappearances, but investigators claimed there was “not enough evidence to proceed.”

Until now.

The brutal cement-barrel evidence suggests a well-funded, well-organized, and highly secretive operation to dispose of victims who either owed debts, knew too much, or refused to cooperate with rigged match outcomes.

👥 VICTIMS IDENTIFIED: SHOCKING CONNECTIONS TO PRIVATE DERBIES

The first body was identified as Jose “Jojo” Liwanag, 41, from Bulacan, who went missing in April 2023 after attending a private e-sabong derby in Cavite allegedly “organized by a known associate of Atong Ang.”

Another was Miguel Torres, 34, a handler for a popular fighting rooster who had been tipped as a whistleblower in an upcoming Senate hearing—a hearing he never made it to.

All the recovered victims were last seen in derbies connected to unregistered operators—a network that whistleblowers claim runs parallel to legitimate cockpits, silently protected by powerful backers.

🔥 PUBLIC UPROAR: “WE WANT JUSTICE!”

As the country reels from the grisly images of cement-entombed victims circulating online, calls for immediate action have exploded across social media and public platforms:

#BringBackAtongAndGretchen

#JusticeForSabungeros

#DrumsOfDeathPH

Senator Rico Valderama called an emergency session of the Senate Committee on Justice and vowed to subpoena both Ang and Barretto upon their return—“or issue warrants if they refuse to come home.”

He stated:

“This isn’t just about illegal gambling. This is about murder, obstruction of justice, and betrayal of public trust. If you flee during an investigation, you’re not innocent—you’re avoiding the truth.”

🕵️‍♂️ NBI AND CIDG JOIN FORCES: “EXPECT MORE DRUMS TO BE FOUND”

With the national spotlight focused on the sabungero disappearances, the NBI and CIDG have launched joint marine searches in other regions, believing there are “dozens more drums” scattered in coves and ports across Luzon and Visayas.

An insider close to the task force said:

“This wasn’t an isolated case. This was an operation. These drums were meant to silence people forever—but tides shifted, and now the truth is surfacing.”

Investigators are also examining bank transactions, CCTV footage from cockpits, and private island docks believed to have been used for secret transport and burial.

💔 FAMILIES SPEAK OUT: “THIS ISN’T JUST OUR LOSS—IT’S EVERYONE’S WAKE-UP CALL”

The families of the victims, long dismissed as conspiracy theorists or emotional outliers, now feel vindicated—but broken.

“We were told they ran away. That they gambled too much and got scared,” said the wife of Jojo Liwanag. “But now we know—they were murdered and dumped like garbage. And the people responsible? They’re sipping wine abroad.”

🧨 FINAL WORD: IS THIS JUST THE BEGINNING?

With the escape of Atong Ang and Gretchen Barretto, the cement-drum horror may only be the tip of an iceberg the country is not yet ready to face.

Who else is involved? Who ordered the deaths? How many more lives were taken—and who still walks free?

As more barrels rise from the deep, so does the truth. And it is uglier, darker, and deadlier than anyone imagine

Atong Ang, Gretchen Barretto, dragged into the issue of missing sabangeros
The names of businessman Atong Ang and actress Gretchen Barretto have been directly implicated again in the issue of missing sabangeros.

According to a report by 24 Oras on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, Ang and Barretto are among those named by Julie Dondon Patidongan or alias Totoy as being behind the tragic incident involving an estimated more than 100 missing sabangeros.

Patidongan is said to be the head of security at Atong’s sabangeros and is said to be given the order to crack down on sabangeros who are caught cheating or cheating in the sabangeros.

“Mr. Atong Ang is the chairman of Pitmaster, he is the mastermind and he is the one who gives the orders to really clean up those things,” said alias “Totoy.” When asked who the female artist he previously revealed was involved in the issue, alias Totoy directly said Gretchen’s name.

“That artist is none other than Ms. Gretchen Barretto. One hundred percent that she is involved and that she is always with Mr. Atong Ang,” he said.

Meanwhile, Atong is said to be set to file a complaint-affidavit against Patidongan’s statements. Meanwhile, as of the time of writing this article, Barretto has not yet released a statement.

It can be recalled that alias “Totoy” is the latest whistleblower who revealed the alleged fate of 34 missing drug lords, including several drug lords, who were allegedly killed by unnamed suspects, including some members of the Philippine National Police.