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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Families of missing 'sabungeros' to DOJ: Charge 38 more respondents, including actress Gretchen Barretto

Families of missing 'sabungeros' to DOJ: Charge 38 more respondents, including actress Gretchen Barretto

Published Jan 6, 2026 01:22 pm
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday, Jan. 6, said it will look into the appeal of the families of the missing “sabungeros” to charge in court the 38 other respondents, including actress Gretchen Barretto.
They filed a motion to partially reconsider the DOJ’s Dec. 9 resolution which ordered the filing in court of criminal charges against businessman Atong Ang and 21 other accused.
Twenty-six criminal cases were filed against Ang -- 10 counts of kidnapping with homicide and 16 counts of kidnapping with serious illegal detention. The trial courts in Laguna and Batangas have yet to resolve if warrants of arrest will be issued.
Ang’s co-accused in the kidnapping with homicide were Police Lt. Col. Ryan Jay Orapa, Rogelio Tedoso Borican Jr., Rodelo Anig-ig, Mark Carlo Zabala, Ronquillo Anding, Police Senior Master Sergeant (PSMS) Joey Natanauan Encarnacion, Police Executive Master Sergeant (PEMS) Aaron Ezrah Lagahit Cabillan, Police Master Sergeant (PMSG) Michael Jaictin Claveria, PSMS Mark Anthony Aguilo Manrique, PSMS Anderson Orozco Abary, Police Staff Sergeant (PSSG) Edmon Hernandez Munoz, PSSG Alfredo Uy Andres, Police Maj. Philip Almedilla, Police Lt. Henry Sasaluya, Police Chief Master Sergeant (PCMS) Arturo Dela Cruz, PSMS Farvy Opalla Dela Cruz, Police Cpl. Angel Joseph Martin, Jezrel Lazarte Mahilum, Emman Cauda Falle, Julious Tagalog Gumulon, and PMSG Renan Lagrosa Fulgencio.
Also charged with Ang in the cases of kidnapping with serious illegal detention are Oraga, Claveria, Anig-ig, Borican, Almedilla, Encarnacion, and Cabillan.
While the DOJ ordered the filing of the cases in courts against Ang and his 21 co-accused, the department dismissed the charges against Barretto and 38 other respondents.
DOJ Spokesperson Raphael Niccolo L. Martinez said that the motion filed by the families last Monday, Jan. 5, will be looked into by the department.
“With due respect to the Honorable Office, there is prima facie evidence to charge the Respondents for the crimes of (1) special complex crime of Kidnapping with Homicide and (2) Kidnapping and Serious Illegal Detention,” the families said in their motion for partial reconsideration.
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