Jamaine Punzalan

PNP–Scene of the Crime Operatives (PNP-SOCO) carry a white sack containing a suspected cadaver during the week-long search operations in Laurel, Batangas, on Thursday, July 17, 2025. The retrieval is part of the ongoing investigation into the case of a missing sabungero. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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MISSING SABUNGEROS- TAAL SEARCH

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176543567693120250717-taal-missing-sabungero-soco-MT5 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>PNP–Scene of the Crime Operatives (PNP-SOCO) carry a white sack containing a suspected cadaver during the week-long search operations in Laurel, Batangas, on Thursday, July 17, 2025. The retrieval is part of the ongoing investigation into the case of a missing sabungero. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA — The Department of Justice will conduct another preliminary investigation on the ongoing kidnapping and serious illegal detention cases involving the missing sabungeros currently pending at the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 185, Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon said Thursday.The new investigation follows the decision of the DOJ last Tuesday to indict businessman <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/9/doj-indicts-atong-ang-on-multiple-counts-of-kidnapping-1849">Charlie “Atong” Ang </a>and others with 10 counts of kidnapping with homicide and 16 counts of kidnapping with serious illegal detention.In the Manila RTC cases, Ang was not among the accused individuals.“Pwede pa siyang masama doon, kaya lang kailangan magkaroon muna ng preliminary investigation at malaman talagang merong ebidensya patungkol sa kanya na magiging basehan para siya ay masama doon sa kaso,” Fadullon said.Whistleblower <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/20/patidongan-co-accused-attend-court-hearing-for-kidnapping-illegal-detention-charges-1858">Julie Patidongan</a>, who only came forward this year and tagged Ang as the mastermind of the disappearance and killing of the missing sabungeros, is an accused in the Manila Arena cases.Fadullon said the re-investigation of the Manila Arena cases could result in the dropping of the charges against Patidongan.Patidongan and his brother Ellakim will serve as state witnesses in the new batch of cases that involve Ang.Fadullon said the DOJ was wrapping up the indictment and the filing of the new cases against Ang in three courts in Lipa City, Batangas and Sta. Cruz and San Pablo in Laguna and they would then proceed with the conduct of the preliminary investigation on the Manila Arena Cases.“Yes, I believe there is already one that will be undertaken, there is one,” Fadullon said.Fadullon said the latest testimony of Patidongan was the basis for the conduct of the preliminary investigation.“Those pieces of evidence were not available during that time when the case was filed and investigated. So that will be taken into account,”  Fadullon said.

The Department of Justice will conduct another preliminary investigation on the ongoing kidnapping and serious illegal detention cases involving the missing sabungeros currently pending at the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 185, Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon said Thursday.

The Department of Justice will conduct another preliminary investigation on the ongoing kidnapping and serious illegal detention cases involving the missing sabungeros currently pending at the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 185, Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon said Thursday.

DOJ to re-investigate Manila Arena cases involving missing sabungeros

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DOJ to re-investigate Manila Arena cases involving missing sabungeros

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 11, 2025 02:49 PM PHT

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sabungero

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Atong Ang

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