MANILA — A regional trial court in Laguna has ordered the immediate arrest of businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang and 17 other individuals after finding probable cause to charge them with kidnapping with homicide, a non-bailable offense under Philippine law.
In a ruling dated January 13, 2026, Regional Trial Court Branch 26 authorized law enforcement authorities to apprehend the accused, whose listed addresses are in Muntinlupa City and parts of Laguna and Batangas. The court stressed that the gravity of the charge bars the grant of bail, citing the severe penalties imposed by the Revised Penal Code for the offense.
The court further directed arresting officers to strictly observe protocols on the use of body-worn cameras during the execution of the warrants, requiring at least one body camera and a secondary recording device to document the arrest process.
The arrest warrant was signed by Presiding Judge Mary Jean T. Cajandab-Ong and transmitted to the Philippine National Police Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management, along with the concerned local police units, for immediate enforcement.
The case is part of a broader investigation into the disappearance of several cockfighting enthusiasts, commonly referred to as “sabungeros,” whose alleged abductions have drawn national attention.
In December 2025, the Department of Justice filed multiple criminal complaints against Ang before various regional trial courts, linking him to the unresolved disappearances. Authorities said further proceedings will hinge on the outcome of the arrests and subsequent court hearings./PN
