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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider CIDG arrests 17 of 18 accused in 'missing sabungeros' case, manhunt on vs Atong Ang

CIDG arrests 17 of 18 accused in 'missing sabungeros' case, manhunt on vs Atong Ang

Published Jan 14, 2026 03:06 pm
Gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang (File photo)
Gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang (File photo)
Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested 17 of the 18 people who were ordered arrested by a Laguna court in connection with the disappearance of cockfighters, or locally referred to as the “missing sabungeros.”
And the only accused who is still at large, according to CIDG director Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II, is businessman Atong Ang who was tagged as the mastermind behind the case.
Morico, however, said the operation is ongoing to take Ang into custody, as well as other accused in the cases of kidnapping with homicide and kidnapping with serious illegal detention.
“We have several operations ongoing in several of his properties in Metro Manila and Region 4A. It will be continuing,” said Morico in a press briefing at Camp Crame on Wednesday, Jan. 14.
The case of the missing sabungeros has long been investigated but it was only after whistleblower Julie Patidongan revealed detailed information that the cases moved forward.
Patidongan accused Ang and several policemen and civilians as involved in the kidnapping and killing of sabungeros accused of game-fixing, an allegation denied by the camp of Ang.
Following the issuance of the arrest warrant, Morico said they already accounted for nine policemen, and six civilian accused in the cases.
Police later accounted one more civilian while the dismissed policeman surrendered.
Morico said the nine active policemen were already secured as they are under restrictive custody while the six civilians were easily accounted for as they were already under surveillance prior to the issuance of the arrest warrant.
Morico said the operation is now focused on Ang, aside from a few others that include a dismissed policeman.
Please surrender
Ang is facing five counts of kidnapping with homicide and six counts of kidnapping with serious illegal detention and Morico vowed to continuously pursue him.
“We are going to account for all of them so I asked Mr. Atong Ang to just peacefully surrender,” said Morico.
“We have been monitoring him. He is still in the country that’s why I am asking him to peacefully surrender,” he added.
Morico also warned that they will be arresting anyone who would assist Ang and other fugitives while in hiding, saying it would be a case of obstruction of justice.
Hope of justice
Charlene Lasco, sister of the missing e-sabong master agent, said the issuance of the arrest warrant against Ang and other accused gave them hope of justice for their missing kin.
“We are very happy because we did not expect that this (issuance of arrest warrant),” said Lasco.
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