🔴 GRETCHEN BARRETTO & SUNSHINE CRUZ ALLEGEDLY FLEEING TO USA OVER “40 SABUNGEROS” CASE!

Manila, Philippines – A viral buzz recently swept through social media, claiming that actresses Gretchen Barretto and Sunshine Cruz were attempting to flee the country for the United States amid the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of around 40 to 100 sabungeros (cockfighting enthusiasts). The rumor even suggested they were on the run. But how much truth is there to the sensational claim?

📉 The Missing Sabungeros Scandal: A Brief Overview

Between April 2021 and January 2022, at least 34 sabungeros disappeared under mysterious circumstances in Luzon—particularly in Laguna, Batangas, Bulacan, Manila, and Rizal—prompting nationwide alarm philstar.com+13en.wikipedia.org+13en.wikipedia.org+13. By June 2025, new testimonies surfaced suggesting the death toll could be as high as 100, with allegations that some victims’ bodies were dumped in Manila’s Taal Lake trustwave.celebtoday24h.com+3philstar.com+3philstar.com+3.

A whistle‑blower named Julie “Dondon” Patidongan, former security head for gambling magnate Atong Ang, implicated Barretto directly, stating she was part of an “alpha group” that decided sabungeros caught cheating needed to be dealt with en.wikipedia.org+14gmanetwork.com+14en.wikipedia.org+14.

👩 Gretchen Barretto: Denial and DOJ’s Response

Barretto has issued a formal denial via her legal counsel, saying she was merely one of about 20 silent investors in e‑sabong—not an active player in any meetings or decisions regarding disappearances philstar.com+13gmanetwork.com+13philstar.com+13. Her lawyer argued the charges are “absurd” and amounted to a “plain invention” philstar.com+1gmanetwork.com+1.

Nevertheless, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed that both Barretto and Atong Ang are now officially included as persons of interest/suspects in the DOJ investigation gmanetwork.com+13philstar.com+13gmanetwork.com+13. Prosecutors are reviewing evidence and testimonies before deciding on formal charges philstar.com+5philstar.com+5gmanetwork.com+5.

Barretto also alleged she has been targeted with extortion attempts—being threatened with false allegations unless she paid a ransom—but she refused en.wikipedia.org+12philstar.com+12gmanetwork.com+12.

☀️ Sunshine Cruz: A Mistaken Passenger in the Buzz

Sunshine Cruz’s name began trending alongside this controversy—not due to any direct link, but because rumors falsely tied her romantically to Atong Ang. There is no evidence that Cruz has any involvement in the missing sabungeros case or e‑sabong operations tribune.net.ph+13trustwave.celebtoday24h.com+13philstar.com+13.

She has publicly denied the rumors and is not under investigation, prompting speculation that her inclusion in the scandal resulted from gossip-driven hashtags and low‑basis innuendo .

🧳 The Attempted Escape Rumor: Fact or Fiction?

The latest twist involves viral claims that Gretchen Barretto and Sunshine Cruz booked flights to the United States, hoping to escape possible prosecution after being named in the DOJ inquiry. Some posts went so far as to say they “slipped out of the country under the radar.”

🔍 However, there’s zero confirmation from any source—no airport CCTV leaks, no travel manifests, no immigration alerts. Instead, there are reports that Philippine police and immigration authorities have barred their exit, as a precautionary measure while DOJ review continues.

🔒 Sources inside the DOJ have advised the DOJ to issue an exit ban on both individuals after naming them as persons of interest, to prevent any attempts to flee before the investigation is complete . No travel documents were canceled officially, but an internal watchlist is reportedly in place.

🧭 What We Know & What We Don’t

Claim
Verified?

Gretchen implicated via whistle‑blower
✅ Yes, by Patidongan’s testimony

DOJ names Barretto and Atong Ang as suspects
✅ Yes, confirmed by Justice Sec. Remulla

Sunshine Cruz involved in case
❌ No – purely rumor

Barretto & Cruz booked US flights to escape
❌ Unsubstantiated – no proof

Philippine exit ban or watchlist placed on them
✅ Likely – precautionary DOJ/immigration procedure in effect

They were physically detained at the airport
❌ Not confirmed

✅ Final Take

The viral story that Gretchen Barretto and Sunshine Cruz were fleeing to America due to the sabungeros scandal is largely unsubstantiated. While Barretto faces scrutiny and is officially under DOJ investigation, multi‑agency safeguards—including potential exit bans—are believed to have been put in place to prevent her (and possibly Cruz) from leaving the country while evidence is evaluated.

So far, there is no confirmed arrest, travel ban, or airport interception. Both women remain under observation until formal charges are filed or dismissed by the courts.

👉 Keep your eyes peeled for official updates from DOJ, PNP, and immigration—this story is still evolving, and rumored escapes may be just another case of online sensationalism.