LAGUNA — A regional trial court in Laguna has ordered the arrest of businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang and 17 other individuals after finding probable cause to charge them in connection with the long-running case involving the disappearance of several sabungeros, or cockfighting enthusiasts, between 2021 and 2022.
In an order dated January 13, Branch 26 of the Regional Trial Court in Sta. Cruz, Laguna issued non-bailable warrants of arrest against Ang and his co-accused for kidnapping with homicide, a crime punishable by reclusion perpetua under Philippine law. The court said the evidence on record established sufficient grounds to hold the accused for trial.
The warrants stem from complaints filed by the families of the missing sabungeros, who allegedly vanished after attending cockfighting events in various parts of Luzon. Investigators earlier linked the disappearances to alleged irregularities and disputes in illegal cockfighting operations.
Aside from Ang, those named in the arrest order include 17 other respondents, composed of security personnel and individuals allegedly involved in the abductions. The court directed law enforcement agencies to immediately serve the warrants, with instructions for arresting officers to use body-worn cameras or alternative recording devices during their operations.
The case follows the Department of Justice’s filing of criminal charges in December, after prosecutors found prima facie evidence against the accused. The DOJ concluded that the circumstances surrounding the disappearances pointed to kidnapping that resulted in the victims’ deaths, even though the bodies have yet to be recovered.
The missing sabungeros case gained renewed attention after a former employee of Ang surfaced as a whistleblower, alleging that several victims were killed and their bodies dumped in Taal Lake. Authorities have since conducted search and retrieval operations in the area, though no remains have been officially recovered.
Ang has consistently denied the allegations, maintaining that he had no involvement in the disappearances and branding the accusations against him as fabricated. His legal camp has said it is prepared to challenge the charges in court.
As of the latest reports, police units have begun moving to enforce the arrest warrants, with some of the accused already in custody, while efforts to locate the remaining respondents, including Ang, are ongoing.
The issuance of the arrest warrants marks a major development in one of the country’s most high-profile criminal cases in recent years, as families of the missing sabungeros continue to seek justice for their loved ones.
