No bail: Atong Ang ordered arrested over missing sabungeros case

MANILA, Philippines – A Laguna court has ordered the arrest of gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang and several others over the missing sabungeros case through a warrant of arrest made public on Wednesday, January 14.

Santa Cruz, Laguna Regional Trial Court Branch 26 ordered no bail against Ang over kidnapping with homicide case. This means that the gaming tycoon and fellow accused will not have the option to avail of temporary liberty.

In December, Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors filed two kidnapping cases against Ang and 24 others in relation the missing sabungeros case.

The DOJ said it found prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction to indict or charge Ang and others with 10 counts of kidnapping with homicide, and another case for kidnapping with serious illegal detention.

The court also ordered the arrest of the following:

1. Police Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Jay Orapa
2. Rogelio Teodoso Borican Jr.
3. Rodelo Anig-ig
4. Jezrel Mahilum
5. Mark Carlo Zabala
6. Ronquillo Anding
7. Police Senior Master Sergeant (PSMS) Joey Natanauan Encarnacion
8. Police Executive Master Sergeant Aaron Ezrah Lagahit Cabillan
9. Police Master Sergeant (PMSg) Michael Jaictin Claveria
10. PSMS Mark Anthony Aguilo Manrique
11. PSMS Anderson Orozco Abary
12. Police Staff Sergeant (PSSG) Edmon Hernandez Muñoz
13. PSMS Farvy Opalla Dela Cruz
14. PSSG Alfredo Uy Andes
15. Emman Cayunda Falle
16. Julious Tagalog Gumolon
17. PMSg Renan Lagrosa Fulgencio

Ang was first implicated in the missing sabungeros case in 2022 because he owns the Lucky 8 Star Quest, the operator of cockfighting arenas where some of the missing sabungeros were last seen.

Three years later, in 2025, he was put in hot water anew after his former employee, accused-whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan, tagged him 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. – Rappler.com