Executive Summary
- A manhunt is underway for gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang regarding kidnapping and homicide charges in the Philippines.
- Seventeen co-accused, including police officers, are already in custody, while Ang remains the only suspect at large.
- The charges relate to the alleged abduction and murder of cockfighting enthusiasts suspected of game-fixing.
- Ang’s defense team claims the charges are baseless and lack physical evidence.
MANILA — Philippine law enforcement authorities have initiated a widespread manhunt for gaming tycoon Charlie "Atong" Ang after a local court in Laguna province issued arrest warrants for him and 17 others in connection with the alleged abduction and murder of several cockfighting enthusiasts, known locally as "sabungeros." According to police reports, authorities are tracking Ang regarding charges of kidnapping with homicide and serious illegal detention.
The Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 26 in Sta. Cruz, Laguna, presided over by Judge Mary Jean Cajandab-Ong, issued the warrants on January 13. While 17 co-accused individuals—including 10 police officers and seven civilians—have been accounted for and are in custody, Ang remains at large. The Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesperson Polo Martinez confirmed that prosecutors intend to secure a Hold Departure Order (HDO) to prevent Ang from leaving the country, although the Bureau of Immigration has stated there is no record of him exiting Philippine territory.
Operatives from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) attempted to serve the warrant at Ang’s known residences in Pasig City and Mandaluyong City, as well as a property in Lipa City, Batangas, but were unable to locate him. "We scoured through every spot he could possibly hide in, from the basement up to the highest floor," stated CIDG-NCR chief Col. John Guiagui following the search of Ang’s Pasig City home.
The charges stem from the disappearance of over 30 cockfighting enthusiasts between 2021 and 2022. DOJ prosecutors allege that witness testimonies, specifically from the Patidongan brothers, established that Ang exercised "command responsibility" over the operations. One witness, Julie "Dondon" Patidongan, claimed in a sworn statement that the victims were abducted, killed, and disposed of in Taal Lake allegedly upon Ang’s orders due to suspected game-fixing activities at arenas linked to Ang’s company, Lucky 8 Star Quest Inc.
Ang has denied involvement in the crimes. His legal counsel, Gabriel Villareal, described the court’s order as "premature" and "legally questionable," asserting in a statement that the case relies on incomplete information and lacks physical evidence linking the businessman to the disappearances. Villareal vowed to exhaust all legal remedies to challenge the arrest order.
Investigative Outlook
The inability of law enforcement to immediately locate a high-profile target despite simultaneous raids on known properties raises questions regarding the logistical challenges of the manhunt. With the Hold Departure Order pending, the focus of the investigation will likely shift to surveillance of domestic transport hubs and potential safe houses within the archipelago. The case represents a significant judicial test given the involvement of both a prominent business figure and multiple law enforcement officers as co-accused. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
