DOJ to file kidnapping with murder case vs Atong Ang, others

Division of Justice prosecutors will even file one other case in opposition to Ang and others for kidnapping with severe unlawful detention

MANILA, Philippines – The Division of Justice (DOJ) introduced on Tuesday, December 9, that it might file two kidnapping circumstances in opposition to gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang and 24 others in relation to the lacking sabungeros (cockfighting fanatics) case.

The DOJ mentioned it discovered prima facie proof with affordable certainty of conviction to indict or cost the next within the court docket with 10 counts of kidnapping with murder:

1. Charlie “Atong” Ang
2. Police Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Jay Orapa
3. Rogelio Teodoso Borican Jr.
4. Rodelo Anig-ig
5. Jezrel Mahilum
6. Mark Carlo Zabala
7. Ronquillo Anding
8. Police Senior Grasp Sergeant (PSMS) Joey Natanauan Encarnacion
9. Police Government Grasp Sergeant Aaron Ezrah Lagahit Cabillan
10. Police Grasp Sergeant (PMSg) Michael Jaictin Claveria
11. PSMS Mark Anthony Aguilo Manrique
12. PSMS Anderson Orozco Abary
13. Police Employees Sergeant (PSSG) Edmon Hernandez Muñoz
14. PSSG Alfredo Uy Andres
15. Police Main Philip Almedilla
16. Police Lieutenant Henry Sasaluya
17. Police Chief Grasp Sergeant Arturo Dela Cruz
18. PSMS Farvy Opalla Dela Cruz
19. PSSG Alfredo Uy Andes
20. Police Corporal Angel Joseph Martin
21. Emman Cayunda Falle
22. Julious Tagalog Gumulon
23. PMSg Renan Lagrosa

Prima facie proof with affordable certainty of conviction means prosecutors discovered sufficient proof to carry the accused to court docket and safe a conviction in opposition to them. The decision was issued on Tuesday as properly.

As well as, the panel of prosecutors additionally ordered the submitting of one other case for 16 counts of kidnapping with severe unlawful detention in opposition to the next:

1. Ang
2. Orapa
3. Claveria
4. Anig-ig
5. Borican
6. Andres
7. Almedilla
8. Encarnacion
9. Cabillan
10. John Does (unidentified policemen belonging to Orapa’s group)

DOJ spokesperson Prosecutor Raphael Niccolo Martinez mentioned the circumstances could be filed with three totally different Regional Trial Courts (RTC) in Lipa Metropolis, Batangas, and in Santa Cruz and San Pablo, each in Laguna.

Notably, actress Gretchen Barreto, who was additionally tagged within the scandal, was not on the record of indicted accused.

“As to the opposite respondents, the case/s have been dismissed with out prejudice to the re-filing of any grievance with the Division of Justice ought to future proof come up linking them on to the acts of illegal detention,” the DOJ mentioned.

As early as 2022, Ang was implicated within the lacking sabungeros case for being the proprietor of Fortunate 8 Star Quest, the operator of cockfighting arenas the place among the lacking sabungeros have been final seen. He attended the Senate hearings and denied all of the allegations hurled at him, together with the accusation that he may eliminate a dishonest sabungero for under P5,000.

In 2025, Ang was put in scorching water anew after his former worker, accused-whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan, tagged the businessman because the alleged mastermind within the disappearances. Authorities knowledge acknowledged that not less than 34 sabungeros had gone lacking from April 2021 to January 2022, however Patidongan mentioned this quantity may attain over 100.

In August, family members of the lacking sabungeros filed a number of complaints in opposition to Ang and others tagged within the case.

Can they submit bail?

Kidnapping, like another severe crime, must be non-bailable.

Which means, as soon as the circumstances reached the courts and the tribunal issued warrants, Ang and others accused is perhaps held below detention.

As early as 2022, the DOJ had already filed non-bailable circumstances in opposition to others concerned within the kidnapping — together with Patidongan. The accused have been finally arrested in September 2023.

Nevertheless, the accused got short-term liberty following Manila RTC Department 40’s order that allowed them to submit bail. 

This bail challenge reached the Court docket of Appeals (CA), which then voided the RTC ruling in a choice in January 2025, ordering the suspects’ rearrest.

Patidongan and others are nonetheless quickly free in the mean time as a result of they appealed the CA ruling earlier than the Supreme Court docket. Their petition continues to be pending.

Given the priority set by Patidongan, Ang may undergo the identical path to problem his arrest if he wishes. – Rappler.com