Two mothers are crying out for justice after hearing shocking news about their sons — who are among the 34 cockfight fans (called sabungeros) who went missing a long time ago.
One of the people accused of the crime spoke out. He said that a rich and powerful businessman named Atong Ang may be the mastermind behind the kidnappings. This made the mothers very sad and very angry.
“He Took My Son. Now He Must Suffer,” Says a Brave Mother
76-year-old Maria Carmelita Lasco, the mom of Jon-Jon Lasco, could barely hold back her tears. She said their family already suspected Atong Ang from the beginning — but they were too scared to say it out loud.
“He should suffer too. Let him feel how hard life is behind bars,” she said. “But prison is nothing compared to what they did to my son… they killed him!”
Even though she is hurting, Maria is ready to fight.
“I will fight. I have to fight,” she said with determination after watching a TV interview where one of the suspects — Julie “Dondon” Patidongan — said that Ang and three others, including famous actress Gretchen Barretto, were involved in the kidnappings.
Maria begged Dondon to stand by what he said and not take it back. She’s also hoping that more people will come forward to tell the truth.
“Where is Your Heart?” Another Mother Asks
Another mom, Carmen Malaca, whose son Edgar Malaca is also missing, said she wasn’t surprised when Dondon revealed the names.
“If our sons did something wrong, you could’ve just had them arrested. Why kidnap and kill them?” she asked angrily.
Carmen’s voice broke as she spoke about the pain:
“Kidnapping and killing 34 people is just too much. Do you even have a heart? Don’t you have a mother? A child? A wife or a brother?”
Why Were They Taken?
Authorities say that the 34 missing sabungeros were kidnapped because of cheating or match-fixing in cockfighting games.
But Dondon said something even scarier: he claimed that the bodies were buried at the bottom of Taal Lake.
⚠️ What Happens Next?
The mothers want justice. They want those responsible to go to jail and suffer for what they did. Now, everyone is watching and waiting. Will Atong Ang be arrested? Will more people tell the truth?
One thing is clear — the fight for justice is just beginning.
