Businessman accuses ex-employees of P300M extortion plot

Businessman Charlie "Atong" Ang has accused two former employees, Julie A. Patidongan and Alan Bantiles, of attempting to extort P300 million from him.

The former employees allegedly threatened to implicate Ang and his family in the disappearance of sabungeros if he refused to pay.

Patidongan, formerly the farm manager for Ang's e-Sabong business Pitmasters, was previously implicated in the disappearance of sabungeros at the Manila Arena in 2022.

Ang stated that he initially provided legal and financial assistance to those involved in the 2022 incident but stopped in 2023.

Ang's security personnel informed him of a plot by Patidongan and Bantiles to kidnap and murder him and extort money from his family.

The extortion demand was made in 2025, with Bantiles requesting P300 million for Patidongan's "separation pay," legal fees, and political campaign funds.

Ang, accompanied by lawyer Lorna Patajo-Kapunan, filed a complaint before the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor's Office for conspiracy to commit attempted robbery with violence against or intimidation of persons, grave threats, grave coercion, slander, and incriminating innocent persons.

In his complaint-affidavit, Ang confirmed that Patidongan, a native of Surigao del Sur, used to work under him as farm manager.

While Patidongan was in hiding, Ang claimed the former had a clandestine meeting with other personnel where he "openly discussed to carry out a grave and calculated criminal scheme that included the kidnapping and eventual murder" of Ang, extortion of ransom money, and robbery from Ang's various residences.

Patidongan, in a GMA News interview, claimed that Ang was the alleged mastermind behind the sabungeros' abductions and also tagged actress Gretchen Barreto in the case.

Patidongan and other accused are currently free from detention as their petition that challenges the invalidation of their bail is still pending before the Supreme Court.