(UPDATE) A REGIONAL Trial Court (RTC) in Lipa City has issued a second arrest warrant against Charlie “Atong” Ang in connection with multiple counts of kidnapping with homicide in relation to the disappearance of several cockfighting enthusiasts or “sabungeros.”
In an order dated Jan. 15, Presiding Judge Pamela Torres Chavez-Izon of RTC Branch 13 directed the arrest of Ang and 20 co-accused in criminal cases 12-1402-2025 to 12-1407-2025.
Also ordered arrested were Ryan Jay Eliab Orapa, Alfredo Uy Andes, Henry Samar Sasaluya, Farvy Opalla Dela Cruz, Angel Joseph Martin, Joey Natanaun Encarnacion, Aaron Ezrah Cabillan, Michael Claveria, Renan Fulgencio, Philip Almedilla, Arturo Dela Cruz Jr., Mark Anthony Manrique, Anderson Abary, Edmon Muñoz, Rogelio Teodoso Borican Jr., Rodel Antipuesto Anig-ig, Mark Carlo Evangelista Zabala, Jezrel Lazarte Mahilum, Emman Cayunda Falle and Julios Tagalog Gumolon.
The warrant follows an arrest order issued on Jan. 13 by RTC Branch 26 in Santa Cruz, Laguna, where Ang and 17 others are charged over the same series of disappearances.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) said Ang and his co-accused are charged with six counts of kidnapping with homicide before the Lipa City court.
The four counts of kidnapping with homicide, and 15 counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention were filed before the Santa Cruz, Laguna, court.
Prosecutors said a third warrant could be issued by the San Pablo, Laguna RTC.
Last year, the DOJ filed 10 counts of kidnapping with homicide, and 16 counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention before three regional trial courts.
Despite the issuance of a second warrant, Ang’s lawyer said his client would not surrender while other judicial remedies remain available.
“There has been no trial and no declaration of guilt,” lawyer Gabriel Villareal said.
Government lawyers are pressing to include Ang among the country’s most wanted persons and offer a P10-million reward for information leading to his arrest.
Villareal criticized descriptions of Ang as “armed and dangerous,” calling them reckless and prejudicial, and could endanger his client’s safety.
He said Ang remains entitled to the constitutional presumption of innocence and should not be publicly labeled prior to a full trial.
He said he last spoke with Ang earlier in the week regarding legal documents related to court appearances in provincial cases.
As far as he knows, Ang is still in the Philippines, Villareal said.
Villareal also disclosed that the defense has filed a motion before the Santa Cruz court for a reconsideration of the warrant issued there.
The motion, he said, questions the validity of the arrest order, citing what he described as incomplete records submitted to the court, including the alleged failure of prosecutors to transmit the accused’s counter-affidavits.
Villareal said that in his counter-affidavit, Ang argued that no evidence was presented during the preliminary investigation to establish his involvement in the case.
Relatives of the missing sabungeros said they are cautiously hopeful following the issuance of the second arrest warrant, but continue to doubt the government’s ability to arrest him.
Ted Lazaro of the Justice for Missing Sabungeros Network said families welcomed the development but remained guarded.
“The family expressed positivity with the issuance of the warrant of arrest,” Lazaro said. “But there is still a sense of reservation because Mr. Atong Ang has not been arrested as of this moment.”
Lazaro said doubts persist due to past instances in which high-profile suspects were not immediately apprehended despite pending warrants. He said the P10-million reward offered by the government was viewed by families as a concrete signal of commitment, even as questions remain over whether it would be sufficient given Ang’s resources.
On Friday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) released a wanted poster for Ang.
Authorities believe he is hiding in various locations, including Pasig, Mandaluyong, Manila, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon and Zambales.
Ang’s firearm licenses have been revoked, and his lawyers have been ordered to surrender his guns to the Firearms and Explosives Office. Six firearms are registered under Ang’s name.
The PNP said it is coordinating with the Bureau of Immigration on the implementation of a hold departure order against Ang.
Villareal told reporters on Friday he would decline media interviews so as not to compromise his client’s case.
He said his office will instead issue press statements to provide updates.
“I’m too preoccupied with the drafting of important legal pleadings, which are due for submission to the courts,” Villareal said.
“I will make myself available to our friends from the media as soon as we know that our client’s needs have been addressed. Our undivided time should be focused on protecting his interests at this point,” Villareal said.
In a related development, the National Police Commission (Napolcom) on Friday announced the dismissal of 11 police officers found guilty of grave misconduct in connection to the missing sabungeros case.
Napolcom Vice Chairman and Executive Officer Ralph Calinisan said the commission found substantial evidence of grave misconduct, obstruction of justice and conduct unbecoming of a police officer against the officers.
Dismissed were: Police Lt. Col. Ryan Elia Borapa; Police Maj. Mark Philip Cimborio Almedilla; Police Executive MSgt. Aaron Ezra Lagahit Cabillan; Police Chief MSgt. Arturo Opalla Dela Cruz Jr.; Police SMSgt. Joey Natanawan Encarnacion; Police SMSgt. Mark Anthony Aguilo Mandrique; Police SMSgt. Anderson Orozco Abari; Police SSgt. Alfredo Uy Antes; Police SSgt. Edmond Hernandez Muñoz; Police Cpl. Angel Joseph Ferro Martin; and Police SSgt. Renan Lagrosa Colencho
Aside from dismissal, the officers meted out penalties including forfeiture of retirement benefits, cancellation of eligibility and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
Napolcom also recommended to the Office of the President the dismissal of former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Romeo Macapaz.
It said Macapaz committed grave misconduct after unlawfully seizing and retaining the cell phones of Ellakim and Jose Patidongan during a Cambodia rescue mission involving whistleblowers in the disappearance of the sabungeros.
“He altered and deleted messages from the confiscated cell phones and concealed or caused the loss of SD cards, thereby impairing the availability of crucial evidence,” Napolcom said.