Ched Rick Gatchalian

Charlie "Atong" Ang at the Mandaluyong City Hall of Justice on Thursday, July 3, 2025. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/FILE

 

Article (news)

Families see warrant vs. Atong Ang as step toward long-delayed justice

Michael Delizo

Lyza Aquino

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1768374748576175153375502120250703-atong-ang-mandaluyong-arrival-MD.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Charlie &quot;Atong&quot; Ang at the Mandaluyong City Hall of Justice on Thursday, July 3, 2025. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/FILE   </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — Families of the so-called missing sabungeros (cockfighting enthusiasts) welcomed the issuance of a warrant of arrest against businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang, calling it a major step toward long-delayed justice in a case that has haunted them for years.</p><p>In a statement on Wednesday, the families said the warrant marked a breakthrough after years of uncertainty surrounding the disappearance of more than 30 cockfighting enthusiasts between 2021 and 2022.</p><p>“Dumating ang takdang panahon na ang katotohanan ay unti-unting nahahayag,” the group said, attributing the latest development to the emergence of whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan, and his two siblings, whose testimonies, they said, helped clarify what happened to the missing men.</p><p>(The appointed time has come for the truth to slowly be revealed.)</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/2/marcos-orders-thorough-investigation-on-missing-sabungeros-1413">&#x27;Dapat mapanagot&#x27;: Marcos orders thorough investigation on &#x27;missing sabungeros&#x27;</a></div><p>“Ang paglabas ng warrant of arrest laban kay Atong Ang ay isang mahalagang hakbang patungo sa hustisyang matagal naming ipinaglaban,” they added.</p><p>(The issuance of a warrant of arrest against Atong Ang is an important step toward the justice we have long been fighting for.)</p><p>The warrant against Ang and other respondents was issued by a local court in Laguna following the filing of criminal complaints linked to the alleged abduction and killing of several sabungeros who were last seen after attending cockfighting events tied to online sabong operations.</p><p>Ang has repeatedly denied the allegations and his camp earlier said that he is ready to face the cases in court.</p><p>In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Charlene Lasco, sister of missing e-sabong master agent Ricardo “Jon-jon” Lasco, said the long-awaited development was an answered prayer for justice.</p><p>“Kami po ay tuwang-tuwa kasi sa talagang haba-haba ng panahon ay talagang gumugulong ang justice system natin sa Pilipinas kahit na talagang medyo natagalan,” Lasco said. “Dumating ang pinaka-hinihintay na namin.”</p><p>(We are very happy because after such a long time, our justice system in the Philippines is finally moving, even if it took a while. What we have been waiting for has finally arrived.)</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/3/atong-ang-hints-at-extortion-in-missing-sabungeros-case-puno-t-dulo-nito-pera-1108">Atong Ang hints at extortion in &#x27;missing sabungeros&#x27; case: &#x27;Puno’t dulo nito pera&#x27;</a> </div><div><br/></div><div><strong>PATIDONGAN WELCOMES THE ISSUANCE OF ARREST WARRANT VS. ANG</strong></div><p>Whistleblower Patidongan welcomed the warrants against Ang and several members of the Philippine National Police, calling the development a sign that justice is moving forward.</p><p>“Una sa lahat, nagpapasalamat ako sa Panginoon at lalo na sa ating Pangulo na si Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” Patidongan said.</p><p>(I thank God and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for this development)</p><p>He credited the current administration for upholding the rule of law, adding, “Sa ilalim ng kanyang administrasyon, malinaw na ipinapakita na pantay-pantay ang batas, walang mayaman, walang mahirap.”</p><p>(Under this administration, it is clear that we are all equal, whether rich or poor)</p><p>Ang is facing charges of kidnapping with homicide and kidnapping before three Regional Trial Courts: one in Lipa City, Batangas, and two in Laguna, in Sta. Cruz and San Pablo.</p><p>The arrest warrant for Ang’s non-bailable kidnapping with homicide case was issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 26 in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/20/mandaluyong-city-prosecutor-dismisses-atong-ang-s-complaints-vs-julie-patidongan-1547">Mandaluyong city prosecutor dismisses Atong Ang&#x27;s complaints vs. Julie Patidongan</a></div><p>Despite welcoming the court’s action, Patidongan asked why other individuals he described as alleged masterminds behind the case were not included in the arrest orders.</p><p>Patidongan characterized the case as systemic and organized in nature, emphasizing the gravity of the alleged crimes. “Ito ay corporate killing,” he said.</p><p>He said he remains on guard, especially since there are still other individuals involved who have yet to be investigated or arrested.</p><p>Atty. Manuel Ventura of MVPLaw, lawyer for the Patidongan brothers, said the families of the slain sabungeros have waited years for accountability.</p><p>“Ang masasabi namin dito bilang abogado ni Patidongan, makikita na makalipas ang ilang taon ng pag-aantay ng mga pamilya ng mga biktima, ng mga pinaslang na mga sabungero, malapit na nilang makamit ang hustisya,” Ventura said.</p><p>Ventura stressed that the victims were allegedly killed for financial gain linked to online cockfighting operations.</p><p>He added that the court’s action shows the justice system remains functional despite the case’s complexity.</p><p>He said that his clients remain grateful and are asking for public prayers as they continue cooperating with authorities as state witnesses.</p><p>“So ang aming kliyente ang Patidongan brothers nagpapasalamat sa gobyerno at patuloy na humihingi sa inyo ng panalangin para sa proteksyon nila at buong pamilya nila bilang state witness sa kasong ito,” Ventura said.</p><p>Patidongan and his brother, Ellakim, were admitted as state witnesses in December last year in some cases involving missing sabungeros, or cockfighting enthusiasts, under the Department of Justice (DOJ) Witness Protection Program (WPP).</p><p>In a 120-page resolution, the DOJ cleared Patidongan and Ellakim of the charges against them in connection with the complaint filed by families of missing sabungeros.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>CONTINUOUS FIGHT</strong></div><p>While also welcoming the arrest warrant, Lasco noted that not all individuals allegedly involved in the case were included in the court order, including some mayors and former actress Gretchen Barretto.</p><p>“Kami ay naghahanap pa ng mga ebidensya upang sila ay maisangkot dahil alam naming talaga na binanggit sila ni Dongdong na sila ay mga kasama, kaya talagang mag-aantay pa rin po kami at magdarasal,” she said.</p><p>(We are still looking for evidence to link them because we know that Dongdong mentioned them as being involved, so we will continue to wait and pray.)</p><p>“Tuloy-tuloy ang laban. Walang aatras po dito,” she added.</p><p>(The fight will continue. No one will back down.)</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/2/-not-just-30-whistleblower-says-100-sabungeros-gamblers-allegedly-killed-dumped-in-taal-lake-0744">&#x27;NOT JUST 30&#x27;: Whistleblower says 100 sabungeros, gamblers allegedly killed, dumped in Taal Lake</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>CALL FOR ENFORCEMENT</strong></div><p>The families hope that the warrant would be enforced, urging authorities to ensure that influence, fear, or corruption would not interfere with its implementation.</p><p>“Sa puntong ito, mahalagang bigyang-diin ang tanong ng publiko: maisasa­katuparan ba nang maayos at walang kinikilingan ang pagpapatupad ng warrant of arrest? Umaasa kami na ang mga kinauukulang awtoridad ay maninindigan sa kanilang tungkulin at patunayang walang puwang ang impluwensiya, takot, o katiwalian sa pagpapatupad ng batas,” they said.</p><p>(At this point, it is important to underscore the public’s question: will the warrant of arrest be implemented properly and without bias? We hope that the concerned authorities will stand firm in their duty and prove that there is no room for influence, fear, or corruption in the enforcement of the law.)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pA9tHwqe0Uw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wUsi4fPrutk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Families of the so-called missing sabungeros (cockfighting enthusiasts) welcomed the issuance of a warrant of arrest against businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang, calling it a major step toward long-delayed justice in a case that has haunted them for years.</p>

Families of the so-called missing sabungeros (cockfighting enthusiasts) welcomed the issuance of a warrant of arrest against businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang, calling it a major step toward long-delayed justice in a case that has haunted them for years.