Camille Naredo

Family members of the missing sabungeros call for justice during a media conference in Quezon City on July 14, 2025. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

Family members of the missing sabungeros call for justice during a media conference in Quezon City on July 14, 2025. The group accuse business tycoon Charlie "Atong" Ang of being the mastermind behind the disappearance of the sabungeros, who may be the individuals whose remains were found submerged in Taal Lake. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Families of Missing Sabungeros call for Justice

Lyza Aquino

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177054702888920250714-justice-missing-sabungeros-MD-10.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Family members of the missing sabungeros call for justice during a media conference in Quezon City on July 14, 2025. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File" width="960"/>Family members of the missing sabungeros call for justice during a media conference in Quezon City on July 14, 2025. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA -- Relatives of the missing sabungeros have renewed their appeal to wanted businessman Charlie Tiu Hay Ang, also known as Atong Ang, to surrender and face the charges against him, as authorities continue an intensified nationwide manhunt. The plea comes amid continued uncertainty over Ang’s whereabouts, following the Cambodian government’s denial that the fugitive businessman is hiding in their country.In a statement dated February 6, the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said there is no record of Ang’s entry or exit in any of its border checkpoints, contradicting earlier reports that he had fled to Cambodia to evade Philippine authorities.&quot;The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation confirms that Charlie Tiu Hay Ang, also known as Atong Ang, who is wanted by Philippine authorities for a series of alleged crimes, is not in Cambodia. According to an official report from the Immigration General Department of the Ministry of the Interior of Cambodia, there is no record of Charlie Tiu Hay Ang’s entry or exit at any Cambodian border checkpoints,&quot; the statement read.<div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/7/cambodia-denies-atong-ang-in-the-country-remulla-says-manhunt-continues-2053">Cambodia denies Atong Ang in the country; Remulla says manhunt continues</a></div>The clarification was issued to counter media reports suggesting that Ang was hiding in Cambodia while a team of Philippine police officers had reportedly been sent there to locate him.Ang has been facing charges of kidnapping with homicide and serious illegal detention in connection with the disappearance of more than 100 sabungeros.Twenty-five days after arrest warrants were issued, authorities have yet to locate him. Despite Cambodia’s denial, Philippine officials said the manhunt remains in full force.Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said in a message to ABS-CBN News that authorities would respect Cambodia’s statement but stressed that all police units remain mobilized. “We will have to take their word for it. The information that Atong Ang was in Cambodia came from Julie Patindongan, the star witness in the missing sabungeros case. All elements of the PNP are actively searching for him. Justice will be had for the 100 plus missing sabungeros,” Remulla said.Meanwhile, in an exclusive interview, whistleblower and state witness Julie Patindongan said that if Ang is not in Cambodia, he may be moving between other Asian countries based on her previous experiences while allegedly being hidden by Ang. “Basta nasa Asya lang yan. Hongkong, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, dahil kaya nila. Katulad nung ginawa nila sa aking dati &#x27;di ba? Nakarating ako ng Europe, Cambodia, Singapore, Vietnam, hanggang sa nag-stay ako sa Europe. Kung nasa ibang bansa yan, maraming maghandle sa kanya. Kasi lahat ay kaibigan nya, international kasi ang grupong ito,” Patindongan said.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/6/atong-ang-s-arrest-warrant-deferred-due-to-motion-to-suspend-proceedings-1820">Atong Ang&#x27;s arrest warrant &#x27;deferred&#x27; due to motion to suspend proceedings</a></div>Patindongan added that if Ang is still in the Philippines, only his immediate family would know where he is hiding. “Bumili yan dyan sa mga exclusive subdivision na hindi nakapangalan sa kanya,&quot; he alleged. &quot;Alam yan ng mga anak nya. Walang pinagkakatiwalaan yan, dahil medyo magulang yang si Mr Aong Ang, pamilya nya lang. Katulad nung ginawa niya sa akin noon.”Meanwhile, families of the missing sabungeros appealed directly to Ang and his relatives to stop evading authorities and cooperate with the investigation. Cha Lasco, sibling of one of the missing sabungeros, called on Ang to face the accusations against him.&quot;Harapin mo kami sa mga ginawa mo, sinasabi mo wala kang kasalanan, pero sa totoo lang kahit grade 1 alam na sya ang gumawa. Sana po sumuko na kayo mr atong ang, at yung mga anak sana makumbinsi ninyo yung father ninyo, may oras pa naman para magbago. Im sure may kabaitan siya sa iba pero hindi niya matatakasan ito. palabigay sya sa iba, palatulong pero hindi mo pwedeng makalimutan na may kasalanan ka. Kailangan niya pagbayaran ito,&quot; Lasco said.Aurelio Panaligan, a relative of two missing sabungeros, also urged authorities to continue pursuing justice. “Ang tanging lang naman po naming panawagan ay ipagpatuloy ang pagproseso, at mapanagot ang mga taong may kasalanan po sa ginawa nila sa aming pamilya at mga bata pa po ito. At naniniwala naman po kami na ang proseso na ginagawa ng aming gobyerno ngayon ay tama po at doon nalang po kami umaasa, wag sanang itigil hanggat hindi namin makamtam ang hustisya,” Panaligan said.Authorities said the National Bureau of Investigation has launched a separate manhunt operation in several areas in the Visayas, believed to be possible hiding places of Ang.A ₱10 million reward remains in place for information leading to the arrest of Ang, now considered the country’s most wanted individual.<div> </div>

Relatives of the missing sabungeros have renewed their appeal to wanted businessman Charlie Tiu Hay Ang, also known as Atong Ang, to surrender and face the charges against him, as authorities continue an intensified nationwide manhunt.

Relatives of the missing sabungeros have renewed their appeal to wanted businessman Charlie Tiu Hay Ang, also known as Atong Ang, to surrender and face the charges against him, as authorities continue an intensified nationwide manhunt.

Families of missing sabungeros renew appeal to Atong Ang: 'Harapin mo kami'

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Families of missing sabungeros renew appeal to Atong Ang: 'Harapin mo kami'

Lyza Aquino,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 08, 2026 06:45 PM PHT

Read More:

Missing sabungeros

Atong ang

Families

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