Arrest warrant issued against Atong Ang over missing cockfighters

By Erika Mae P. Sinaking

A LOCAL COURT on Wednesday issued multiple arrest warrants against businessman Charlie Tiu Hay Ang, also known as Atong Ang, and several others in connection with the disappearance of cockfighting enthusiasts, or sabungeros.

In an arrest warrant dated Jan. 13, the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Sta. Cruz, Laguna, Branch 26 ordered the arrest of Mr. Ang and at least 17 other respondents for kidnapping with homicide, an offense classified as non-bailable.

State prosecutors will immediately seek the issuance of a hold departure order to prevent the accused from leaving the country ensuring their appearance at trial, Justice spokesperson Raphael Niccolo L. Martinez told reporters.

“Any and all law enforcement agencies may serve the warrant depending on where the accused is located. As a matter of procedure, the warrant will be served at the last known address,” Mr. Martinez said.

Gabriel L. Villareal, Mr. Ang’s lawyer, said the Laguna court’s arrest order was a violation of his client’s right to due process and described it as “legally questionable,” saying it relied solely on alleged incomplete information from the Department of Justice (DoJ).

“Clearly, the court merely acted on the incomplete and one-sided information provided by the Department of Justice in its determination of probable cause, without having even seen the counter affidavits and exculpatory evidence of the respondents, including that of Mr. Ang,” Mr. Villareal said in a statement.

He added that his camp would exhaust all available legal remedies to challenge the arrest order.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Acting Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr. told a Palace briefing that 10 to 11 police personnel who are among the co-accused are currently under restrictive custody and are set to surrender to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

“This is an implementation of warrant arrest, we have a procedure, and the PNP personnel, all PNP personnel involved are, of course, mandated to follow,” Mr. Nartatez said in mixed English and Filipino.

Asked whether the court issued a resolution detailing its finding of probable cause, Mr. Martinez said that judges typically no longer issue a separate resolution once an arrest warrant is issued.

“While the Rules of Court require the judge to independently determine probable cause based on the prosecutors’ resolution, the court ordinarily no longer releases a written resolution detailing its findings,” he said.

Last year, the DoJ found sufficient evidence to charge Mr. Ang and more than 20 others over the disappearance of sabungeros reported missing between 2021 and 2022.

“We can say that the judge agreed with the findings of the prosecutors,” Mr. Martinez said.

He noted that the standard required for the DoJ to file charges — “prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction” — is higher than the “probable cause” standard required of courts to issue arrest warrants.

According to prosecutors, the evidence on record establishes a strong case that could withstand judicial scrutiny against Mr. Ang and his co-respondents. Suspect-turned-witness Julie “Dondon” Patidongan earlier alleged that Mr. Ang and his associates, identified as members of the Pitmaster online cockfighting group, played a direct role in the incidents. The investigation began in September after reports surfaced that 34 cockfighting enthusiasts had gone missing.

In two additional orders, Presiding Judge Mary Jean Cajandab-Ong of the Laguna court issued arrest warrants against Mr. Ang and his fellow accused of kidnapping and serious illegal detention.

The judge also ordered arresting officers to use at least one body-worn camera and an alternative recording device under Supreme Court guidelines.

Mr. Martinez said the cases pending before the RTCs in Sta. Cruz and San Pablo, Laguna, as well as in Lipa City, Batangas, involve a total of 26 victims, including 10 counts of kidnapping with homicide and 16 counts of kidnapping with serious illegal detention.