By Nancy Carvajal
Bilyonaryo gambling tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang paid a surprise visit to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) headquarters Thursday (March 10) and appealed for fairness as it investigates the disappearance of 34 cockfighting enthusiasts.
READ: No age restrictions in Atong Ang’s e-sabong world? Teen sabungeros to appear in Senate probe to prove GCash, PayMaya can’t stop minors from gambling
No subpoena had been issued for Ang but he went to the bureau’s headquarters with an abogado, said NBI Director 3 Emeterio Dongallo Jr.
READ: Iwas pusoy kayo! Bato Dela Rosa mocks stuttering lawyer for being evasive on GCash’s role as gateway to Atong Ang’s P60B a month E-Sabong empire
“He just showed up. Ang said he will provide documents when needed and promised to cooperate in the investigation. He appealed for a fair investigation,” Dongallo said.
READ: E-Sabong war! Atong Ang claims rivals Bong Pineda, Cong Teves, Patrick Antonio, General Cascolan, Mayor Nagano salivating over his P60B-a-month windfall
Ang attended the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs’ investigation on e-sabong last week. He was invited by senators over reports that some of the missing sabungeros were last seen in the cockpit arenas he operates.
READ: Atong Ang rakes in up to P60B a month in bets, P3B in profits from E-Sabong while PAGCOR takes only P400M a month
The controversial e-sabong kingpin owns Lucky 8 Star Quest Inc., which operates Pitmasters Live, an online portal which accepts online cockfighting bets and streams cockfights.
READ: Amid search for missing sabungeros: Atong Ang confirms attendance to Senate probe on e-sabong
Sources at the NBI said agents have been in touch with witnesses who know about the alleged abduction of 34 cockfighting enthusiasts.
READ: Masama lang nakikita! Atong Ang blasts politikos, businessman for trying to kill e-sabong
Dongallo declined to comment on the NBI’s involvement with the witnesses, but said their statements and background will be validated.
READ: Para daw mabantayan! Grace Poe breaks down the reasons why the Senate should approve e-Sabong franchise of Atong Ang’s Lucky 8-Pitmasters
Ang claimed there was a “conspiracy” to pin him down for the cockfighting enthusiasts’ disappearance since he corners 90 percent of the e-sabong business.
The businessman revealed that he earns P3 billion monthly from online cockfighting bets.

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