‘Lost Sabungeros’ unmask deadly truths at PUP screening

Unmasking the deadly truths, student-filmmakers, journalists, and faculty came together at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Theatre for the special screening of the documentary Lost Sabungeros: The Complete Story, shedding light on the harsh reality where gambling, greed, and powerful tycoons have left a trail of missing men and unanswered questions for over four years.

Despite attempts to block its airing before, the Department of Broadcast Communication (DBC), University Center for Culture and the Arts (UCCA), Film Aficionados Circle (FilAC), PUP ValorOUS Society, and PUP FilmBayan have partnered with GMA Public Affairs to bring the screening of the docufilm to the university on March 31, 2026.

The investigative documentary is an updated version of its original release, following the recent developments in the case.

It explored the mysterious disappearance of more than 30 cockfighting enthusiasts in the country between April 2021 and January 2022 due to the rise of online sabong during that time and the involvement of powerful individuals in the gambling industry, showing the violent consequences and interviewing the families of the victims.

Lost Sabungeros was originally supposed to hit the big screens at the 2024 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, but was cancelled due to “security reasons.” The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) also refused to review the documentary, which was later clarified by the organization that it had asked for additional requirements before undergoing proper evaluation.

The documentary was then officially released at the QCinema International Film Festival and has had multiple special screenings at universities across the country.

Prior to the start of the screening, College of Communication (COC) Student Council President Alvin Aligam delivered a solidarity speech in unison with the victims whom he personally saw during the 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“Ang kawalan ng katarungan ay hindi lamang makikita sa pelikulang ito. Ito ay buhay na reyalidad natin bilang mga Iskolar ng Bayan at bilang bahagi ng mas malawak  na sambayanan.”

The talkback session featured director Bryan Kristoffer Brazil, producer Joselito "Tolits" Tan, 24 Oras anchor Emil Sumangil, who covered the case, and the relatives of the victims who went missing.

Tan shared that the documentary germinated from a series produced by Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS), where they unfolded new information and twists week after week, prompting them to make it into a docufilm as the plot got complicated.

Relatives of the victims also got to share their personal realizations, where Janina “Jaja” Pilarta shared the corruptive power of money to convince people and alter justice.

“Huwag niyo po susukuan ang mga ipinaglalaban niyo… Sa panahon natin ngayon, pinapairal nila ang pera. Kaya ang justice, hindi na nabibigay sa atin nang tama…Doon ko kasi napatunayan na kapag may pera ka, kayang kaya mo hingiin ‘yan,” said Pilarta

Then right-hand man and now whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan went on air to share his story that the Inonog family allegedly accepted ₱50 million in exchange for their silence, as Butch Inonog, the father of John Claude Inonog, the missing driver of the sabungeros on the way to the Manila Arena, allegedly accepted it.

They also tried to get a comment from Butch Inonog, but he did not respond to the messages.

Charlene Lasco also expressed gratitude to GMA and the team behind the docufilm for the help they’ve provided throughout the four-year coverage, as they want to remind the people of the loopholes in the Philippine justice system that are exploited through money.

The production team also went on to defend their side after alleged mastermind and gambling tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang went on to criticize the network for the “framing” of their story, where Tan said that they’ve reached out more than 10 times but were rejected in all of them.

They also included Ang’s public statements in their documentary to ensure that the narrative is not one-sided. Sumangil added that they did not name any alleged mastermind in the first few days of their coverage.

Tan clarified that the information about the bodies of the victims that were fed to crocodiles was triangulated and verified by three different sources, apart from the statements from an alias “Angelo.” 

Brazil also confessed that they were not sure in what direction the docufilm would take after their first version, since they encountered numerous “twists and turns” throughout the story. They later saw a resolution after the recent developments in the case, and Ang fled the scene and went into hiding.

“Noong pinapanood ko na siya, na-proud ako, kasi ‘Oh my God, apat na taon na pala ito.’’ Nakita ko ang twist and turns eh…Na-capture niya somehow ang picture ng truth. ‘Okay, hindi pala madali ‘yung justice; puwede pala mangyari ito,’” said Brazil.

“Ang documentary may power siyang ni-rerecord niya ang memory at experience. Kaya kapag pinapanood natin, mas nalilinawan…Kaya documentary kasi straightforward siya, tiyaka hindi mo siya maku-kuwestiyon eh…so paglabas mo, nagbibigay siya ng panibagong lens.”

The Missing Sabungeros Case

The case began to gain national traction in January 2022 after several men vanished after visiting an arena in Sta. Ana Manila.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched a joint investigation with the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, launching its own probe that questioned gambling tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang, to which he denied any involvement.

Patidongan — who is also among the accused — resurfaced in 2025 at the National Police Commission (Napolcom), and made significant progress in the case, claiming that police were paid to kidnap and kill cockfighters who cheated and dump their alleged bodies in Taal Lake.

The Philippine Coast Guard has then retrieved skeletal remains tied to sandbags from different locations in the lake. However, none of the bones matched the DNA samples, with 238 pieces no longer usable since they had deteriorated over time.

This January, a Laguna court issued an order to arrest Ang and several other people involved in a kidnapping with homicide case with no bail, as the DOJ found substantial evidence to charge Ang and his company.

More than 20 places have been raided by the PNP, which are believed to be hiding spots by the gambling tycoon, including his properties, but Ang was nowhere to be seen. The bounty has been set at ₱20 million for information leading to the arrest of Ang.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) revealed on March 25 that the fugitive is still within the country, as Ang had no recent overseas travel. It also disregarded the possibility of Ang using private vehicles, emphasizing that even private properties undergo immigration inspection and need clearance to cross borders.

Article: Lourence Angelo Marcellana

Graphics/Illustrations: Ericka Castillo