MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Tuesday, December 9, that it would file two kidnapping cases against gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang and 24 others in relation to the missing sabungeros (cockfighting enthusiasts) case.

The DOJ said it found prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction to indict or charge the following in the court with 10 counts of kidnapping with homicide:

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 Master Sergeant (PSMS) Joey Natanauan Encarnacion
9. Police Executive Master Sergeant Aaron Ezrah Lagahit Cabillan
10. Police Master Sergeant (PMSg) Michael Jaictin Claveria
11. PSMS Mark Anthony Aguilo Manrique
12. PSMS Anderson Orozco Abary
13. Police Staff Sergeant (PSSG) Edmon Hernandez Muñoz
14. PSSG Alfredo Uy Andres
15. Police Major Philip Almedilla
16. Police Lieutenant Henry Sasaluya
17. Police Chief Master 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 evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction means prosecutors found enough proof to bring the accused to court and secure a conviction against them. The resolution was issued on Tuesday as well.

In addition, the panel of prosecutors also ordered the filing of another case for 16 counts of kidnapping with serious illegal detention against the following:

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 said the cases would be filed with three different Regional Trial Courts (RTC) in Lipa City, Batangas, and in Santa Cruz and San Pablo, both in Laguna.

Notably, actress Gretchen Barreto, who was also tagged in the scandal, was not on the list of indicted accused.

“As to the other respondents, the case/s were dismissed without prejudice to the re-filing of any complaint with the Department of Justice should future evidence arise linking them directly to the acts of unlawful detention,” the DOJ said.

As early as 2022, Ang was implicated in the missing sabungeros case for being the owner of Lucky 8 Star Quest, the operator of cockfighting arenas where some of the missing sabungeros were last seen. He attended the Senate hearings and denied all the allegations hurled at him, including the accusation that he could get rid of a cheating sabungero for only P5,000.

In 2025, Ang was put in hot water anew after his former employee, accused-whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan, tagged the businessman as the alleged mastermind in the disappearances. Government data stated that at least 34 sabungeros had gone missing from April 2021 to January 2022, but Patidongan said this number could reach over a hundred.

In August, relatives of the missing sabungeros filed multiple complaints against Ang and others tagged in the case.

Can they post bail?

Kidnapping, like any other serious crime, should be non-bailable.

Meaning, once the cases reached the courts and the tribunal issued warrants, Ang and others accused might be held under detention.

As early as 2022, the DOJ had already filed non-bailable cases against others involved in the kidnapping — including Patidongan. The accused were eventually arrested in September 2023.

However, the accused were given temporary liberty following Manila RTC Branch 40’s order that allowed them to post bail. 

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

Patidongan and others are still temporarily free at the moment because they appealed the CA ruling before the Supreme Court. Their petition is still pending.

Given the precedence set by Patidongan, Ang might go through the same route to challenge his arrest if he desires. – Rappler.com