PCSO Chair Challenges Whistleblower on Case Fixing Claims
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Chairperson, retired judge Felix Reyes, has openly challenged whistleblower Julie Patidongan to prove his allegations linking a former judge to alleged case fixing involving businessman Atong Ang. These accusations center on the high-profile missing sabungeros case.
In a statement released Wednesday, Reyes urged Patidongan to present any specific case related to Atong Ang or the missing sabungeros where the former judge supposedly manipulated outcomes to favor Ang. “If Mr. Patidongan cannot substantiate his accusation of case-fixing, I ask him to shut up,” Reyes said firmly.
Patidongan had recently claimed in a radio interview that a former judge, now holding a senior position within the PCSO and allegedly shielded by other officials, was involved in fixing cases for Ang. Reyes vehemently denied these claims, calling them “wild accusations.”
Denial Amid Political Timing and Calls for Transparency
Reyes noted the timing of these accusations was suspicious, surfacing just a day after he submitted his application for the Ombudsman post. “I find it perhaps a rare coincidence that these wild accusations of Mr. Patidongan came out a day after I filed my application for the position of Ombudsman,” he added.
Meanwhile, whistleblower Patidongan identified businessman Atong Ang and actress Gretchen Barretto as masterminds behind the disappearance of the sabungeros, who were allegedly killed and dumped into Taal Lake three years ago. These serious claims are under investigation by the Supreme Court and the Department of Justice.
Reyes Offers Full Cooperation and Transparency
To dispel any doubts, Reyes announced his willingness to authorize the Bureau of Immigration to release his travel records since his retirement from the judiciary on October 1, 2021. This move aims to counter any insinuations that he traveled abroad with prosecutors or judges involved in the case.
He also expressed readiness to cooperate with any government agency investigating these allegations, hoping to protect the integrity of the judiciary and prosecution service. “I wish to state that I am ready and willing to cooperate in any investigation by any government agency that will shed light on these baseless allegations of Mr. Patidongan and spare the judiciary and the prosecution service from the undeserved tarnishing of these institutions,” Reyes emphasized.
Background of PCSO Chair Felix Reyes
Felix Reyes served as a Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge in Marikina City and held the presidency of the Philippine Judges Association before his 2024 appointment as PCSO chairperson. His judicial career also includes acting presiding judge of Taguig City RTC Branch 70 (2017–2019), RTC judge in Lipa City (2011–2021), and RTC judge in Calamba City (2011–2013).
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